Magneto-optical control of F\"orster energy transfer

TL;DR

This paper develops a theoretical framework for controlling F"orster energy transfer using magneto-optical effects, enabling tunable FRET rates and efficiencies via external magnetic fields in nanostructured environments.

Contribution

It introduces a general theory for dipole-dipole energy transfer in nanostructures with anisotropic electromagnetic responses, focusing on magneto-optical control of FRET.

Findings

FRET rate can be tuned by magnetic fields.

Distance dependence of FRET is altered by anisotropy.

FRET efficiency is sensitive to dipole orientation and magnetic field.

Abstract

We introduce a general framework to study dipole-dipole energy transfer between an emitter and an absorber in a nanostructured environment. The theory allows us to address F\"orster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) between a donor and an acceptor in the presence of a nanoparticle with an anisotropic electromagnetic response. In the particular case of a magneto-optical anisotropy, we compute the generalized FRET rate and discuss the orders of magnitude. The distance dependence, the FRET efficiency and the sensitivity to the orientation of the transition dipoles orientation differ from standard FRET and can be controlled using the static magnetic field as an external parameter.