"Violating" Einstein's Photoelectric Effect Model - Comments

In summary, ZapperZ wrote an insightful article discussing violations of Einstein's photoelectric effect model. These violations, while less aesthetically pleasing, have important technological implications, particularly in the field of concentrated solar power. By combining the energy of multiple photons, it is possible to convert infrared light into visible light that can be used by solar cells. While the efficiency gain may not be significant, it could still improve the overall efficiency of solar cells.
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"Violating" Einstein's Photoelectric Effect Model

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Thank you ZapperZ for a thoughtful insight article! The simplest cases such the one addressed by Einstein are typically the most beautiful and elegant ones. The extensions that comes later such as the electric field effect, heat effect or mutli-photon processes are typically the most labor-intensive less beautiful but technologically important cases.
 
  • #3
Nice article Zz!
 
  • #4
I was wondering if these violations of Einstein's rule could be used to make photo voltaic cells more efficient? Keep in mind that with the concentrated solar principal (more info here http://www.technologyreview.com/news/540856/doe-attempts-to-jump-start-concentrated-solar/ ) acres of mirrors can concentrate light onto a few solar cells. Thank you for your time!
 
  • #5
There are some ideas how infrared light can get converted to visible light (with sufficient energy per photon to be used by the cell) by combining the energy of at least two photons. The efficiency gain won't be large, but maybe better than nothing.
Mirrors are independent of all those ideas.
 

Related to "Violating" Einstein's Photoelectric Effect Model - Comments

1. Why is it considered a violation of Einstein's photoelectric effect model?

Einstein's photoelectric effect model states that light is made up of particles called photons that transfer their energy to electrons, causing them to be ejected from a material. However, the violation of this model refers to experiments that have shown that the energy of the ejected electrons is not solely dependent on the intensity of the incident light, but also on the frequency of the light.

2. How does this discovery affect our understanding of light?

This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of light as solely consisting of particles. It suggests that light also behaves like a wave, which was a concept proposed by James Clerk Maxwell in the 19th century. This has led to the development of the wave-particle duality theory, which states that light can exhibit both particle-like and wave-like properties depending on the experiment being conducted.

3. What are some practical implications of this violation?

One practical implication is the development of new technologies, such as solar cells, that are more efficient in converting light energy into electrical energy. This is because the energy of the ejected electrons can now be controlled by changing the frequency of the incident light, rather than just the intensity. Additionally, this violation has led to further research and advancements in the field of quantum mechanics.

4. Does this mean that Einstein's photoelectric effect model is completely wrong?

No, Einstein's model is still a valid explanation for the photoelectric effect in certain experiments. It accurately describes the relationship between light intensity and the number of ejected electrons. However, it does not fully explain the relationship between light frequency and the energy of the ejected electrons, which led to the violation of the model.

5. How is this violation being further studied and explored?

Scientists are conducting experiments using different materials and light sources to better understand the mechanisms behind the violation of Einstein's photoelectric effect model. They are also using advanced technologies, such as ultrafast lasers, to study the photoelectric effect on a nanoscale level. This will provide more insights into the nature of light and its interactions with matter.

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