ENERGY-TRANSFER IN A STATIC ELECTRIC-FIELD

The issue of how the application of a static electric field can influe nce energy transfer between molecules is addressed. Several aspects ar e considered. First, in molecules of reasonably high symmetry where th e donor decay or the acceptor excitation transition is electric dipole forbidden, the application of a static field can, by an electro-optic al interaction, allow energy to transfer by a dipolar mechanism. In th is way application of the field effectively switches on the transfer p rocess. Secondly, it is shown how the application of a static electric field can provide more spectroscopic information, as in the technique of electric field-induced spectroscopy: it also offers a possible bas is for new types of laser system. Finally, in a polar liquid an applie d field can produce a degree of molecular alignment. It is demonstrate d how this can significantly modify energy transfer characteristics, a nd the dependence of the effect on field strength and temperature are identified.