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Alan Alpert

Jan 1, 1970
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How much electricity can be obtained from one photon of light?
 
W

William P.N. Smith

Jan 1, 1970
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Alan Alpert said:
How much electricity can be obtained from one photon of light?

Well, cosmic rays are photons, as is the microwave background, which
one did you have in mind?
 
D

daestrom

Jan 1, 1970
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Alan Alpert said:
How much electricity can be obtained from one photon of light?

A photon's energy is related to its frequency/wavelength. Not all have
enough energy to excite an electron out of orbit from an atom. If not, then
the photon will interact with the matter by exciting the motion of the atom
(warming the matter). But then, no electricity.

Some photon's may have more energy than is needed. In this case, it *may*
excite an electron enought to leave its atom and emit another, lower energy
photon. *or*, it may not excite an electron, instead interact in one of
many other ways.

This is one of the reasons why PV cells don't convert all the sunlight that
strikes them into electricity. Much of the sunlight is composed of photons
that are the 'wrong' energy level to excite electrons.

But if you have the right energy level, one photon could 'liberate' one
electron. To get a couple of amperes of electricity, would require *many*
photons.

daestrom
 
A

Alan Alpert

Jan 1, 1970
0
Thanks, you guys have got me on the right track.
 
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