Fluorescence and phosphorescence of β-carotene

Abstract

Studies have been made of the fluorescence and phosphorescence of solutions of all-trans and 15-15′-cis β-carotene. No significant differences were found in the light emission from these two isomers. At room temperature a weak green fluorescence is observed. It is proposed that both delayed fluorescence and phosphorescence occur in the delayed emission spectrum obtained at low temperature. A value of approximately 17,000 cm^–1 is then obtained for the 0 â†� 0 triplet energy. The significance of this value in relation to other properties of β-carotene is discussed.