The Photoelectric Effect: Understanding Light and Electrons

This lecture explores the photoelectric effect, where light is quantized into photons that can eject electrons from a metal surface. It delves into how the kinetic energy of emitted electrons depends on light intensity and frequency, and the delay between light arrival and electron emission. The Compton effect is also discussed, demonstrating the particle-like behavior of photons through scattering experiments. Applications of the photoelectric effect, such as photomultiplier tubes and photovoltaic cells, are highlighted. The lecture concludes with a discussion on the corpuscular and undulatory nature of light and matter, introducing the principle of complementarity.