Using Chlorophyll Fluorescence to Study Photosynthesis*

Each quantum of light absorbed by a chlorophyll molecule rises an electron from the ground state to an excited state. Upon de-excitation from a chlorophyll a molecule from excited state 1 to ground state, a small proportion (3-5% in vivo) of the excitation energy is dissipated as red fluorescence. The indicator function of chlorophyll fluorescence arises from the fact that fluorescence emission is complementary to alternative pathways of de-excitation which are primarily photochemistry and heat dissipation. Generally, fluorescence yield is highest when photochemistry and heat dissipation are lowest. Therefore, changes in the fluorescence yield reflect changes in photochemical efficiency and heat dissipation.