Dynamics of Fluorescence Polarization in Macromolecules

Abstract

Reexamination of the theory of fluorescence time dependence owing to rotational diffusion of rigid macromolecules reveals deficiencies or hidden restrictions in each of the previous treatments. The correct master equation has five exponential decay terms, with preexponential factors that depend upon the diffusion constants and, in a completely symmetrical fashion, upon the orientations of absorbing and emitting dipoles.