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- TL;DR Summary
- Using quantum mechanics, the photoelectric effect is the traditional phenomenon that proves the light behavior as a particle (photons). But could the effect be proved by classical wave mechanics?
The main point of the photoelectric effect as a particle phenomenon is the threshold frequency. Now, degrading our actual atom quantum model to the old Bohr model, the ("wrong") idea of electron orbital frequency is applicable. In this case, we can observe that there is a correlation, or approximation (mainly for Rydberg atoms) between the last calculated electron "orbital frequency" and the photoelectric threshold frequency. This could pass a perception, that the photoelectric threshold frequency could have a kind of electron orbit "resonance" relation with the incident light frequency, removing the electron from the orbit only for frequencies equal to or bigger than this resonance. Lower frequencies of incident light would not pump the orbital electron, even for increased light levels.