What is Electron Emission?

What is Electron Emission?

Electron Emission Definition

Electron emission is the release of electrons from a material’s surface when they gain enough energy to overcome the surface barrier.

Types of Electron Emission

The main types are thermionic emission (heat), field emission (electric field), photoelectric emission (light), and secondary electron emission (high-energy particles).

Work Function

The work function is the minimum energy needed for electrons to escape a material’s surface.

Applications in Devices

• Vacuum tubes

• Displays

• Microscopes

• Solar Cells

• Cameras

• Magnetrons

• Vacuum diodes

Photoelectric Emission in Solar Cells

Solar cells use photoelectric emission to convert light into electrical energy.