マイクロ波照射場で,ピコ秒の時間分解能で蛍光寿命を測定できる体系を組上げた。この装置を用いて,蛍光プローブ分子C153の回転運動に及ぼすマイクロ波照射の影響を検討した。プローブ分子の回転速度の温度依存性を検討し,それらの活性化エネルギーを求めた。回転速度の活性化エネルギーは,マイクロ波照射場では小さくなることが分かった。つまり,マイクロ波照射場では,プローブ分子の回転が容易であることがわかった。
An experimental apparatus that can measure fluorescence lifetime with picoseond time-resolution under microwave irradiation conditions was build up. Using the apparatus the effect of microwave irradiation on the rotational motion of a probe molecule C153 was investigated. The activation energy for the rotational motion was determined by measuring the temperature dependence of the rotational rate constants. It is found that the activation energy was reduced under the microwave irradiation conditions by comparing with that measured under conventional heating conditions. Therefore it may be concluded that, under the microwave irradiation conditions, the dipole molecule can rotate easily.