Topic 1: Particle Duality

Photons as discrete Particles.

Photoelectric Effect: Photon kicks out Electron.
Compton Effect: Photon scatters off Electron.

Particle Behavior

Page 1

Momentum and Energy: Get it Right!

Momentum and Energy DEFINITIONS

h
p hk

E hf h

Energy vs. Momentum RELATIONSHIPS

hc
E (photon) pc

hc

p
E (particle)

2m 2(mc 2 ) 2
2

Page 2

Photons: Wave-like Behavior

de Broglie (1924) proposed that ALL particles
(photon, electron, etc.) have an associated
wavelength = h/p.
Proof for photon (zero mass) given by:
Rest mass

E pc mc
2

From Relativity:
For a Photon (m = 0):

E pc 0
2

2 2

E pc

hc
h
E
pc

p
Page 3

Photons: Quantized Energy Particle

Light comes in discrete energy packets called photons.

Energy of
Single Photon

hc 1240 eV nm
E = hf

(nm)

h hc E
p=

c c

Momentum of
Single Photon

From Relativity:

E pc mc

For a Photon (m = 0):

2 2

Rest mass

E pc 0 E pc
2

Page 4

Photons: Electromagnetic Spectrum

400 nm
Gamma Rays

Ultraviolet
Visible
Infrared
Microwave
Short Radio Waves
TV and FM Radio
AM Radio
Long Radio Waves

Wavelength

Frequency

X-Rays

Visible
Spectrum

700 nm
Page 5

Photoelectric Effect: Particle Behavior of Photon

PHOTON IN ELECTRON OUT
Photoelectric effect shows quantum nature of light, or existence of energy
packets called photons.
Theory by Einstein and experiments by Millikan.
A single photon can eject a single electron from a material only if it has the
minimum energy necessary (or work function
A 1 eV (or larger) photon can eject an electron with a 1 eV work function.
Electron ejection occurs instantaneously photons cannot be added up.
Two 0.5 eV photons cannot add together to eject the electron above.
Extra energy from the photon is converted to kinetic energy of the ejected
electron.
A 2 eV photon would eject the electron above with 1 eV kinetic energy.
Page 6

Photoelectric Effect: Apparatus

Photons hit metal cathode and eject electrons with work function .
Electrons travel from cathode to anode against retarding voltage VR
(measures kinetic energy Ke of electrons).
Electrons collected as
photoelectric current at anode.
Photocurrent becomes zero when
retarding voltage VR equals
stopping voltage Vstop,
i.e. eVstop = Ke

Cathode
Anode

Light
Page 7

Photoelectric Effect: Equations

Total photon energy =
e ejection energy + e kinetic energy.
2

hc
mv

eVstop

2
where hc/ = photon energy, = work
function, and eVstop = stopping energy.
Special Case: No kinetic energy (Vo = 0).
Minimum energy to eject electron.

Emin

hc

min
Page 8

Photoelectric Effect: IV Curve Dependence

Intensity I
dependence
Vstop= Constant

f1 > f2 > f3
Frequency f
dependence

f1

f2

f3

Vstop f
Page 9

Photoelectric Effect: Vstop vs. Frequency

eVstop hf
Vstop 0

hfmin

hf min

Slope = h = Plancks constant

Page 10

Photoelectric Effect: Threshold Energy Problem

If the work function for a metal is = 2.0 eV, then find the threshold energy Et and
wavelength t for the photoelectric effect. Also, find the stopping potential Vo if the
wavelength of the incident light equals 2t and t /2.
At threshold, Ek = eVo = 0 and the photoelectric equation reduces to:

Et 2 eV

and

hc 1240eVnm
t

620 nm
Et
2 eV

For 2t, the incoming light has twice the threshold wavelength (or half the threshold
energy) and therefore does not have sufficient energy to eject an electron. Therefore,
the stopping potential Vo is meaningless because there are no photoelectrons to stop!
For t/2, the incoming light has half the threshold wavelength (or twice the threshold
energy) and can therefore eject an electron with the following stopping potential:

t
For
(or E 2 Et ),
2

eVo

hc
2 Et 2(2) 2 eV 2 eV

Page 11

Compton Scattering: Particle-like Behavior of Photon

An incoming photon (E1) can inelastically scatter from an electron and lose
energy, resulting in an outgoing photon (E2) with lower energy (E2 < E1
The resulting energy loss (or change in wavelength ) can be calculated
from the scattering angle

Incoming X-ray

Scattered X-ray
Scattering
Crystal

Angle
measured

Page 12

Compton Scattering: Schematic

PHOTON IN PHOTON OUT (inelastic)

hc
EE2 hc
2
2
2

hc
E1
1

Page 13

Compton Scattering: Equation

Photon OUT

Scattering Angle

h
2 1
1 cos
mc
Photon IN
Critical c= 0.0024 nm for e

Limiting Values
No scattering: = 0 cos0 = 1 = 0
Bounce Back: = 180 cos180 = 1 = 2 c

Difficult to observe unless is small (i.e. > 0.01).

Derivation involves relativistic expressions - not done here.
Page 14

Compton Scattering: Wavelength/Energy Problem

If a 0.511-MeV photon from a positron-electron annihilation scatters at
= 180 from a free electron, then find the wavelength and energy of the
Compton scattered photon.

2 1 C 1 cos (0.00243 nm) 1 cos180o 4.86 103 nm

hc 1240 eV nm
1

2.43 103 nm
E1 0.511 106 eV

2 1 2.43 103 nm 4.86 103 nm 7.29 103 nm

hc 1240 eV nm
E2

1.70 105 eV or 0.17 MeV

2 7.29 103 nm
Page 15