Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Photoionization Cross Section Measurement Of Rb 5p3/2, Charles Young

Honors Theses

The photoionization of atoms is still an emerging field with a foundation in laboratories and journals, yet much in the field is unknown. Photoionization is the phenomenon of an incident photon on a gaseous atom causing the ejection of an electron, and therefore, the atom becomes an ion. The photoelectric effect is a similar but broader term dealing with atoms in all forms: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. The photoelectric effect causes a current whenever light with a certain wavelength is shined on a metal. The wavelength that is needed to eject an electron is dependent on the atom(s) involved …