Preliminary Investigation of the Two-Photon Photoelectric Effect

Abstract

The photoelectric current due to the absorption of two photons has been calculated. Its magnitude is dependent upon the square of the incident radiation intensity, whereas, for the photoelectric effect due to the absorption of one photon, the magnitude of the current is linearly dependent upon the intensity. The magnitude of the photoelectric current due to the absorption of two photons is small. However, under intense radiation, such as is obtainable from a ruby laser, a photoelectric current due to two-photon absorption should be observed.