Electronic excitation transport as a tool for the study of polymer chain statistics.

Recent theoretical studies on electronic excitation transport (EET) among chromophores attached to a polymer chain are reviewed with the objective of making EET a quantitative probe of macromolecular structure. One dimensional energy migration in an aryl vinyl polymer containing single monomer and excimer states is shown to lead to a transient fluorescence decay that is inherently nonexponential (or multiexponential). Two many body theories for three dimensional EET among a small concentration of chromophores attached to a polymer chain are outlined. The first theory, developed for a random distribution of chromophores along the chain contour, includes both inter- and intramolecular excitation transport. It may be applied to any type of chain statistics and to any transfer rate.