QUANTUM MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ELECTRONIC ENERGY TRANSFER IN MOLECUIAR CRYSTALS

Abstract

The most successful theory in describing the transfer of electronic excitation among dilute crystal impurities, is that of F\”{o}rster and Dexter. This theory is derived quantum mechanically through Fermi’s Golden Rule, but takes into account transfer probabilities rather than probability amplitudes in evaluating the dynamics of energy transfer. A quantum mechanical theory is developed by the proper treatment of the excitation density matrix and of the crystal phonons. This theory reduces to the F\”{o}rster-Dexter theory as a limiting case, and at the same time points to the limitations of that theory.