The discussion centers on the photoelectric effect and its distinction from Compton scattering. In the photoelectric effect, all photon energy is absorbed to free an electron and impart kinetic energy, with no residual energy or lower frequency photon remaining. The relative probabilities of the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering depend on photon energy and target material. Additionally, atomic x-ray photons are emitted following deep core photoejection, filling vacancies in atomic shells, which contrasts with the absence of secondary photons in the photoelectric effect.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, students of quantum mechanics, and anyone interested in the interactions between light and matter, particularly in the context of the photoelectric effect and Compton scattering.
There are always atomic x-ray photons emitted from the target atom after a deep core photoejection. They represent atomic transitions filling the vacancy in the K, L, or M shell. Unlike Compton scattering, there is no direct instantaneous secondary photon.trizz10 said:In the photoelectric [deep core photoejection] effect all the energy of the photon is considered to be absorbed in both freeing the electron and giving it Kinetic energy. But why can’t there be a lower frequency photon left over or residual energy absorbed by the material from which the electron came?