- #1
lawlieto
- 15
- 2
I've been reading about the photoelectric effect, and something got me thinking. If the frequency of light shone onto the metal is below the threshold frequency, no electrons are liberated from the surface of the metal, since electrons absorb quanta of energy, so if that light is shone for a long time, energy wouldn't be absorbed on a continuous basis etc.. but, what if 2 or 3 consecutive photons hit the same electron? Wouldn't the energies absorbed from those 2-3 photons accumulate so that an electron is liberated?
Or is there a very little probability for that to happen? (but then we could increase the intensity of light ie more photons emitted so that gives a higher probability)
Or does the energy for liberation has to be absorbed all at once? If that is the case, what happens to the photons? Are photons still absorbed if they're not energetic enough? (In that case I don't see why the energy from consecutive photons accumulated wouldn't liberate an electron)
Or is there a very little probability for that to happen? (but then we could increase the intensity of light ie more photons emitted so that gives a higher probability)
Or does the energy for liberation has to be absorbed all at once? If that is the case, what happens to the photons? Are photons still absorbed if they're not energetic enough? (In that case I don't see why the energy from consecutive photons accumulated wouldn't liberate an electron)