PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

ESSENCE

Occurs for visible and uv radiation.

PREDICTIONS OF CLASSICAL WAVE THEORY

Speed of photoelectrons increases with light intensity More intense light => bigger amplitude of electric vector E => bigger force applied to the electron F = eE The photoelectric effect should be present for all frequencies Provided the intensity is sufficient to eject the electron It takes time from light illumination to electron ejection Tiny electron can only absorb a tiny fraction of all wave energy

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Max kinetic energy of electrons independent of light intensity

For sufficiently big reversed bias, only the fastest electrons lead to photocurrent.

The stopping potential is independent of light intensity.

Kmax = eV0

EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Threshold frequency below which no photocurrent Independently of light intensity

Note linear dependence on frequency.

Pbulb = 1W = 1J/s

(2)

Pbulb THE CLASSICAL TIME LAG

d = 1m

= 1W = 1J/s

Kmax = eV0

Kmax = eV0

(3)

Potassium plate illuminated from 1m by 1W bulb

r = 1 A (4) Pbulb = 1W = 1J/s Pbulb = 1W = 1J/s

d = 1m

our approximation to the 19 electron of = a 2.1 1.6 10 19 J = 3.4r Wsize: 2.1eV = 101 J A 0 =radius circular area of the size d = 1m of an atom

d = 1m

(5)

W0 = 2.1eV = 2.1 1.6 10

energy required to remove an electron from potassium surface

19

r = 1 A

J = 3.4 10r 19 =J 1 A

electronvolt: energy gained by an electron moved across potential difference of 1 Volt

W0 = 2.1eV = 2.1 1.6 10

19 19

19

J = 3.4 1

IN SHORT

Classical physics cannot explain results of photoelectric experiments.

EINSTEIN'S POSTULATE OF A PHOTON

W0 =

19 19 Radiation is composed of photons 2.1eV = 2.1 1.6 10 J = 3.4 10 J Indivisible energy packets localized in space More photons means higher intensity of radiation

One photon has a definite energy

Ephoton = h
Photoelectric effect A photon is absorbed by an electron

Ephoton = h
THEORY OF PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT

Everything follows from energy conservation Moreover, one can ignore the energy of recoiling atoms

h = K + W
energy of a photon kinetic energy of ejected electron work required to remove the electron from the metal

Of course momentum is also conserved, but to explain discussed effects energy conservation is sufficient.

h = K + W
MAX KINETIC ENERGY

Max kinetic energy independent of light intensity

Kmax = h

W0

work function: minimal work required to remove the electron

Intensity of light is given by the number of photons. More photons means that more electrons will be ejected, but all of them with the same max kinetic energy and therefore the same stopping potential.

Kmax = h
THRESHOLD FREQUENCY

W0

Threshold frequency

h 0 = W 0
the minimal energy required to remove the electron

All photons with lower energy, equivalently lower frequency, independently of how many of them hit the metal, will not be able to eject any electrons.

STOPPING POTENTIAL

h = K + W
Kmax = h W0

Linear dependence of stopping potential on frequency

Kmax = h

W0

Kmax = eV0
gives

h 0 = W 0

e 1J/se Pbulb = 1W =

V0 =

h 0 = W h 0 W 0

BREMSSTRAHLUNG

Inverse of photoelectric effect Photons are created when electron brakes in nucleus' field

Artist impression.

HISTORY OF SCIENCE

Nobel prizes related to photoelectric effect

Albert Einstein (1921) for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect

Robert Millikan (1923) for his work on the elementary charge of electricity and on the photoelectric effect

SUMMARY

W0 = 2.1eV = 2.1 1.6 10

One photon has energy

19

Radiation is composed of photons More photons more intense the radiation

J = 3.4 10

19

Ephoton = h
Photons are indivisible Can only be absorbed or emitted as a whole

We still have to marry this particle-like picture with interference experiments.