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[Illinois] ECE 416 Fluorescence I

By Brian Cunningham

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Published on


&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In this lecture, we discussed Fluorescence molecules and how they can be used for detection of other molecules. The molecules are considered to have high energy states, which helps them with their detection. The photons discussed in the lecture can be seen as individual particles of light and have wave properties. The photon flux is the rate of the photon hitting a given space. The photon power density is the photon flux by the energy of each photon, while irradiance is the photon rate within a defined wavelength range and collecting area. The intensity is the energy/time within a defined wavelength range and collecting area. Next, the process of absorption is also discussed where the molecule absorbs a photon of light and it becomes excited, it tells us how many photons in wavelength band are absorbed by a material. This absorbed energy can be translated into rotation, vibration, or electron excitation to be read. Fluorescence is the molecules absorbing photons of light and are excited to higher electric states and the energy can be release by the emission of a photon of light. Internal Conversion is also discussed as another to ground the state of electrons without radiation. The concept of stokes shift and its applications are also discussed in the lecture in regard to fluorescence. However, a weakness of fluorescence is that the dimolecules can become inactive by photobleaching and quenching. The fluorescence may become decomposed over time leading to a reduction of quantum yield. The way the fluorescence is used is by attaching the dye by a covalent bond to a protein so we can detect the protein.





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  • Brian Cunningham (2013), "[Illinois] ECE 416 Fluorescence I,"

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