Accurate measurement of the work function of electron-hole drops in germanium

The work function of electron-hole drops in Ge relative to free excitons is measured by an extremely simple and accurate technique. The threshold excitation power for drop condensation is determined as a function of temperature by observation of the sharp increase in shot noise associated with the drops in a collector junction. The resulting value of the work function is φ = 17.2 ± 1.0 K. © 1973.