noun
- the process by which a photon of light ejects an electron from an atom or molecule, ionizing it
Usage: technical; physics; chemistry
Examples
- Photoionization occurs when ultraviolet light strikes an atom with enough energy to remove an electron.
- The photoionization of hydrogen atoms is a key process in astrophysics.
- Scientists study photoionization to understand how radiation interacts with matter.
- Photoionization cross-sections are important parameters in modeling stellar atmospheres.
- The experiment measured the photoionization efficiency of various gases under different wavelengths.