Luminescence of Organic Molecules Theory and Analytical Applications in Photosynthesis

Abstract

This article surveys some essential features of luminescence spectroscopy as subdisciplin of optical spectroscopy, particularly focusing on photosynthesis. Theory and origin of various types of luminescence of molecules and complex biological systems are explored in terms of potential energy surfaces. Depending on particular electronic, species and a great diversity of mechanisms involved, numerous biochemical, biophysical and photobiological mechanisms are accompanied by emission of light quanta, including prompt fluorescence and phosphorescence as well as a great variety of delayed light emission. It is exemplified how these phenomena may be experimentally adopted for assaying parameters not easily accessible by other, non-invasive methods.