The
lifetime of an excited molecular entity in the absence of radiationless transitions. It is the reciprocal of the first-order
rate constant for the radiative step, or of the sum of these rate constants if there is more than one such step. The equivalent term,
natural lifetime, is discouraged. Approximate expressions exist relating
to the
oscillator strength of the emitting transition.
Source:
PAC, 1996, 68, 2223
(Glossary of terms used in photochemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 1996))
on page 2270
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A.Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
