noun
- an electron emitted from a material when light shines on it, as in the photoelectric effect
Usage: physics; technical
Examples
- When ultraviolet light strikes a metal surface, photoelectrons are released from the atoms.
- The energy of a photoelectron depends on the frequency of the incident light.
- Scientists measure the kinetic energy of photoelectrons to study the photoelectric effect.
- Photoelectrons are used in photomultiplier tubes to detect light signals.
- The number of photoelectrons emitted increases with the intensity of the light source.