Förster Distance

The Förster Distance is the specific distance at which energy transfer between two molecules—called a donor and an acceptor—occurs with 50% efficiency. Imagine it as the critical range where the donor molecule can effectively "push" energy to the acceptor without direct contact. This distance is measured in nanometers and depends on factors like the molecules’ properties and how well their light absorption and emission match. It’s fundamental in understanding processes like fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), which scientists use to study biological interactions at the molecular level.