In 1905, Einstein proposed the theory of the photoelectric effect. Based on the light quantum hypothesis and energy conservation formula, he successfully explained the experimental laws of the photoelectric effect, which promoted the development of quantum physics. His pioneering historical contribution is beyond doubt. However, limited by the theoretical cognition of his time, Einstein introduced the concept of photon dynamic mass and built a physical model that electrons are emitted by the impact of photon dynamic mass, which became the core logic of his explanation of the photoelectric effect. With the development of modern physics, the concept of dynamic mass has been falsified and abandoned by mainstream physics. Photons only have energy and momentum, no rest mass and no real dynamic mass, which fundamentally negates the theoretical basis of "photon impact on electrons". Based on the falsification of dynamic mass theory, this paper re-derives the real physical mechanism of the photoelectric effect. It clarifies that the photoelectric effect is not electrons ejected by photon impact, but photons completely transfer energy to extranuclear electrons. Electrons gain energy, undergo energy level transition, and break away from the Coulomb constraint of atomic nuclei to escape. Only photons with energy strictly matching the electron energy level can be absorbed; too high or too low energy will not produce an effect. This rule completely negates the impact model. The missing positions after electrons escape are automatically replenished by free electrons in the system to maintain electrical neutrality. This paper retains Einstein's correct energy conservation formula, corrects the errors of his microscopic interaction mechanism, and realizes the improvement and unification of the photoelectric effect theory.
Jiaqing Yan (Sat,) studied this question.