In photoelectric effect, why does photon prefer K shell electron?

In summary, the photoelectric effect occurs when a photon's energy matches or exceeds the binding energy of an electron, causing the electron to be liberated from the atom. While a photon could potentially liberate electrons from lower binding energy levels, it prefers to interact with the electron in the K shell. This can be explained by the fact that the K shell electron has the highest binding energy and therefore requires the most energy from the photon to be liberated. Additionally, in solid metals, the ejected electrons may come from crystal structure bands rather than atomic shells. This information is supported by the provided reference.
  • #1
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Homework Statement



In photoelectric effect, why does photon prefer K shell electron?

Asked differently:
In photoelectric effect, why does photon prefer electron of closest binding energy, rather than going for another electron of much lower binding energy?

Homework Equations



http://www.sprawls.org/ppmi2/INTERACT/

The Attempt at a Solution



This is what I understand about photoelectric interaction: If a photon's energy matches or is higher than the binding energy of an electron, the photon will be absorbed by that electron. This allows the electron to overcome its binding energy and be liberated from the atom. So for example a photon can be absorbed by a K shell electron which then escapes.

I am cool with above.

My question is: if that photon had enough energy to break free K shell electron, that photon could have broken free an L shell, or M shell electron instead (they are of lower binding energies hence easier to liberate). Why would the photon preferentially choose to free the one that's hardest to free (K electron)? That photon could easily have chosen to free the M shell electron and given it more residual energy to run away with.

Hope my question is clear: why does photon prefer K shell electron in photoelectric effect when it could easily choose an easier target (eg. M shell electron)?

Thank you.
 
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  • #2
Check: does the photoelectric effect prefer the K shell? How do you know this? Does your own reference support this idea?

eg. in a solid metal, wouldn't the ejected electrons come from one of the crystal structure bands rather than from atomic shells?
 

Related to In photoelectric effect, why does photon prefer K shell electron?

1. Why does the photon prefer to interact with K shell electrons in the photoelectric effect?

The K shell is the innermost electron shell in an atom, meaning that the K shell electrons are closest to the nucleus. This results in a stronger binding force between the electrons and the nucleus, making them less likely to be affected by other factors such as atomic vibrations. Therefore, the photon prefers to interact with K shell electrons as they are more stable and less likely to be knocked out of their orbit.

2. Is the energy of the photon a determining factor in its preference for K shell electrons?

Yes, the energy of the photon plays a crucial role in the photoelectric effect. The energy of a photon is directly proportional to its frequency, and higher energy photons are more likely to interact with K shell electrons due to their stronger binding force. This means that higher frequency light, such as ultraviolet or X-rays, are more likely to cause the photoelectric effect compared to lower frequency light.

3. How does the electron configuration of an atom affect the preference of photons for K shell electrons?

The electron configuration of an atom determines the number of electrons in each shell, including the K shell. Since the K shell is the innermost shell, it is always filled first before electrons can occupy the outer shells. This means that K shell electrons have a higher probability of being present in an atom, making them more likely to interact with photons compared to electrons in the outer shells.

4. Can K shell electrons be affected by the photoelectric effect in any atom?

Yes, K shell electrons can be affected by the photoelectric effect in any atom. However, the strength of the binding force between the nucleus and the electrons may vary depending on the atom's atomic number. Elements with higher atomic numbers have more protons in the nucleus, resulting in a stronger binding force and making K shell electrons less likely to be affected by the photoelectric effect.

5. Are there any other factors that may influence the preference of photons for K shell electrons?

Aside from energy and electron configuration, the angle of incidence and the surface material also play a role in the photoelectric effect. Photons are more likely to interact with K shell electrons when they hit the surface of a material at a perpendicular angle. Additionally, some materials have a lower work function, meaning that less energy is required to knock out an electron from its orbit, making them more susceptible to the photoelectric effect.

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