On the theory of concentration self-quenching by statistical traps

This work is concerned with the theory of concentration self-quenching of luminescence due to incoherent energy transfer between randomly distributed molecules. A simple model of self-quenching is considered, in which luminescent molecules within a critical distance of each other act as perfect traps. Due to the statistical nature of these traps, few practical results can be obtained from systematic or formal theories. We demonstrate, however, that within the framework of hopping theories for energy transfer an exact and a simple intuitive treatment of the donor and trap distributions differ only very little in their results for the quantum yield and emission anisotropy.