A mathematical analysis of the relation between (bacterio) chlorophyll fluorescence yield and the concentration of reaction centre traps in photosynthesis

A random walk approach is used to discuss the relation between fluorescence yield and the concentration of reaction centre traps. For the matrix model as used for bacteria, non-negligible deviations are found from the Vredenberg-Duysens relation. An approximately linear re;ationship between the reciprocal of the fluorescence yield and the trap concentration remains. For the unit model as used for system 2, the deviation from Joliot's relation is small. The assumptions of the unit model are debatable. An alternative matrix model is presented.