The orientation of the transition dipole moments of TMA-DPH embedded in a poly(vinylalcohol) film Original Research Article

We determine the orientation of the optical transition moments of the fluorescent probe trimethylammonion-diphenyl-hexatriene (TMA-DPH). This is accomplished using angle-resolved steady-state fluorescence depolarization experiments on TMA-DPH embedded and immobilized in a stretched anhydrous poly(vinylalcohol) film matrix. The absorption moment was found to lie parallel to the long axis of the chromophore. The emission moment makes an angle of 18 ± 2° with this axis.