Which of the following is a byproduct of photoelectric absorption?

The correct answer, which identifies a byproduct of photoelectric absorption, is the photoelectron. In the photoelectric effect, when a photon of sufficient energy interacts with an inner-shell electron of an atom, it can transfer all its energy to that electron. This energy transfer can result in the ejection of the electron from its atomic orbit, creating what is known as a photoelectron. This process not only removes an electron from the atom but also increases the overall ionization of that atom, which has implications for the absorption of radiation in tissues and materials.

In addition to the ejection of the photoelectron, this interaction often leads to the emission of characteristic radiation as the atom seeks to stabilize itself by filling the vacancy left by the photoelectron. However, the emphasis is on the fact that the photoelectron itself is the direct byproduct of the photoelectric absorption process.

The other options do not directly result from the photoelectric effect. A Compton electron results from the Compton scattering process, which involves the interaction of a photon with an outer shell electron. Characteristic radiation is emitted during the transition of electrons to fill the vacancies created by ionization, while scattered photons refer to photons that have been deflected rather than absorbed, typically in the