Resonance Energy Transfer: From Fundamental Theory to Recent Applications

Abstract

Resonance energy transfer (RET), the transport of electronic energy from one atom or molecule to another, has significant importance to a number of diverse areas of science. Since the pioneering experiments on RET by Cario and Franck in 1922, the theoretical understanding of the process has been continually refined. This review presents a historical account of the post-Förster outlook on RET, based on quantum electrodynamics, up to the present-day viewpoint. It is through this quantum framework that the short-range, R −6 distance dependence of Förster theory was unified with the long-range, radiative transfer governed by the inverse-square law. Crucial to the theoretical knowledge of RET is the electric dipole-electric dipole coupling tensor; we outline its mathematical derivation with a view to explaining some key physical concepts of RET. The higher order interactions that involve magnetic dipoles and electric quadrupoles are also discussed. To conclude, a survey is provided on the latest research, which includes transfer between nanomaterials, enhancement due to surface plasmons, possibilities outside the usual ultraviolet or visible range and RET within a cavity.

Quantum electrodynamics in modern optics and photonics: tutorial

“…Among the most prominent successes of molecular QED has been its development of theory for RET-the ostensibly radiationless mechanism through which electronic excitation energy acquired by a donor molecule migrates to any acceptor with suitable spectral overlap [137][138][139][140]. This is a topic of wide relevance to a host of materials, including photosynthetic systems.…”

Off-Resonance Control and All-Optical Switching: Expanded Dimensions in Nonlinear Optics

“…Resonance energy transfer (RET) is the transport of the electronic excitation between electronically distinct molecular components, commonly designated donor A and acceptor B [65][66][67][68][69][70].…”

“…Resonance energy transfer (RET) is the transport of the electronic excitation between electronically distinct molecular components, commonly designated donor A and acceptor B [65][66][67][68][69][70]. Analogous to the effects of laser-modified absorption and fluorescence, an off-resonant beam of sufficient intensity is able to increase or reduce the rate of such energy transfer.…”

Interdiffusion during film formation of ionically cross‐linked acrylics investigated with Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)

“…In this work, FRET has been used to investigate polymer interdiffusion. In short, FRET is a non‐radiative energy transfer process taking place between an excited fluorophore (donor) and a dye in the electronic ground state (acceptor) . If the distance between the donor and the acceptor is within 1–10 nanometers, the donor can transfer its excitation energy via dipole‐dipole interactions to the acceptor instead of fluorescing.…”

“…If the distance between the donor and the acceptor is within 1–10 nanometers, the donor can transfer its excitation energy via dipole‐dipole interactions to the acceptor instead of fluorescing. This increases the curvature in the fluorescence decay curve of the donor . Since interdiffusion takes place on nanoscopic scales, FRET analysis can be employed to follow its progress .…”