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The Efficiency of Energy Transfer describes the efficiency of energy transfer between two light-sensitive molecules (chromophores). It is a fundamental concept in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) studies.
The calculator uses the FRET efficiency equation:
Where:
Explanation: The equation shows that energy transfer efficiency decreases with the sixth power of the distance between donor and acceptor molecules, making it extremely sensitive to distance changes.
Details: Accurate calculation of energy transfer efficiency is crucial for studying molecular interactions, protein folding, nucleic acid structure, and developing biosensors in biological and chemical research.
Tips: Enter donor to acceptor distance and Forster critical distance in meters. Both values must be positive numbers. The calculator will compute the energy transfer efficiency between 0 and 1.
Q1: What is the Forster Critical Distance?
A: The Forster Critical Distance (R₀) is the distance at which the energy transfer efficiency is 50%. It depends on the spectral properties of the donor and acceptor molecules.
Q2: What is the typical range for energy transfer efficiency?
A: Energy transfer efficiency ranges from 0 (no transfer) to 1 (complete transfer). Most practical applications work with efficiencies between 0.1 and 0.9.
Q3: Why is the distance dependence so strong (6th power)?
A: The strong distance dependence comes from the dipole-dipole interaction mechanism of FRET, making it an excellent molecular ruler for distances of 1-10 nm.
Q4: What factors affect the Forster Critical Distance?
A: R₀ depends on the spectral overlap between donor emission and acceptor absorption, the quantum yield of the donor, the orientation factor, and the refractive index of the medium.
Q5: Can this calculator be used for all FRET systems?
A: This calculator uses the standard FRET efficiency formula, which applies to most FRET systems assuming proper dipole orientation and homogeneous medium conditions.