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photoelectron

photoelectron

1 9.3
A tiny negatively charged particle that leaves an atom when light hits it
  • noun
  • /ˌfoʊtoʊˈɛktrɒn/
  • Specialized
: fotoelectrón
  • A photoelectron is emitted when one quantum of electromagnetic energy is absorbed at an illuminated metal surface, the electron's energy gain being proportional to the frequency of the incident radiation.

Examples

  • All Bayer array sensors are pretty linear devices—for every X photons they deliver Y photoelectrons up to the point where they saturate.

    Blog text (14)
  • The study showed that increasing photon intensity leads to a higher number of emitted photoelectrons from the metal surface.

  • Many noise sources can overwhelm single-photoelectron signals.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The oscillations following the K-absorption edge for crystalline Ni result from backscattering of the photoelectron by neighboring atoms.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Achieving a spatial resolution substantially higher than that of the ESRF team will be difficult, given that the range of a primary photoelectron ejected when a hard x-ray is absorbed is greater than a micron in most materials.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The production of photoelectrons within the silver halide crystals of the photographic emulsion was also maximum for x-rays of around 25-30 keV.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Precise measurements of the energy-shifted photon, the photoelectrons, and the Auger electrons not only reveal the nature of this process but also provide details of the involved final and intermediate states.

    Academic text (1995)
  • The probability of producing a photoelectron (which can then excite fluorescence) varies as approximately the fourth power of the atomic number of the atoms within the microcrystals making up the fluorescent screen.

    Academic text (1995)
  • A photoelectron is emitted when a photon is absorbed, resulting in the release of energy from an atom.

  • In a photoelectric experiment, the detection of a photoelectron helps to measure the energy of incoming photons.

Synonyms

electron
vsphotoelectron
  • Specialized
104 3.7

A very small particle in atoms that has a negative electric charge and carries electricity

is released from an atom or molecule when a photon is absorbed

Surface Forms

photoelectron singular

Morphology

photoelectron = electron (opaque) = photo + electron

Although the word is built from the combining form 'photo-' and 'electron', the specialized scientific meaning is not reliably inferable for an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Photoelectron joins photo- and electron: photo- means 'light', as in photograph, and electron is the small particle that carries electricity in atoms. So a photoelectron is an electron that light has knocked free from an atom.