What is the name of the phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when illuminated by light?

The phenomenon where electrons are emitted from a material when illuminated by light is known as the photoelectric effect. This effect demonstrates the interaction between light and matter, specifically how light can impart energy to electrons, thereby enabling them to overcome the attractive forces binding them to the material.

When light of a sufficient frequency strikes the material, photons are absorbed, transferring their energy to the electrons. If this energy exceeds the work function (the minimum energy required to release an electron from the material), electrons are ejected. This phenomenon was crucial in establishing the particle theory of light and supports the idea that light can behave as both a wave and a particle.

The photoelectric effect has numerous practical applications, including in photovoltaic cells and photo detectors, highlighting its significance in both theoretical and applied physics. Other choices, while they may refer to related concepts, do not specifically denote this unique relationship between light and electron emission.