By assuming that the conjugation length of a long polyene chain may be
broken into segments (for example, by twists about the single bonds)
and that the energy to create such a conjugation break is independent
of where it occurs, a conjugation length distribution is derived. For
long chains this distribution is dominated by short fragments, in agre
ement with conclusions drawn from measured absorption spectra. (C) 199
5 American Institute of Physics.