Theory of diffusion-influenced fluorescence quenching: Dependence of the Stern-Volmer curve on light intensity

Abstract

A theory for describing the effects of quencher molecules on the intensity of fluorescence stimulated by steady-state illumination is presented, which is based on a hierarchical system of many-body Smoluchowski equations for the reactant molecule distribution functions. An important aspect of the present theory is that it describes the dependence of fluorescence quenching dynamics on the intensity of external illumination. In the conventional Smoluchowski approach it has been simply assumed that the intensity of illumination should be quite weak. Hence the validity of the present theory may be tested by a fluorescence quenching experiment under intense illumination.