Förster, Theodor

Theodor Förster was a German scientist renowned for developing the theory of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), a process describing how energy transfers between two molecules in close proximity. When one molecule (the donor) absorbs light, it can transfer its energy non-radiatively to a nearby molecule (the acceptor), causing the acceptor to emit light. This principle is widely used in biological and chemical research to study distances and interactions at the molecular level, as the efficiency of energy transfer depends on their distance, typically within 1–10 nanometers. Förster’s work has significantly advanced understanding of molecular dynamics and interactions.