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During Photoelectric effect and other such phenomenon, when light is made to fall on metal surface, single photon is absorbed by the single electron present in metal atom. Why not 2, 3, 4, or more photons can be absorbed by single electron?

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    $\begingroup$ multiple absorption is possible in principle, but way less probable. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 23, 2015 at 11:59
  • $\begingroup$ Why the downvote? It's a duplicate, but it's a perfectly good question. $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 23, 2015 at 12:37
  • $\begingroup$ See: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/225255/… $\endgroup$ Commented Dec 23, 2015 at 15:32
  • $\begingroup$ Since the advent of high power lasers multiphoton ionization of atoms has become an active area of research. Google with "multiphoton ionization" $\endgroup$
    – Urgje
    Commented Dec 23, 2015 at 16:07

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