In the late 1960s, I identified an aspect of the kinetics of chlorophyll fluorescence in algal cells that I was unable to
explain in terms of photochemical quenching. I proposed a novel regulatory mechanism for the distribution of light energy
to photosystems I and II, which is now known by the term of “state transitions.” I also examined the “cation-dependent redistribution
of light energy” to photosystems I and II and the “energy-dependent quenching” of chlorophyll fluorescence. At that time,
financial constraints prevented me from measuring the emission and action spectra of chlorophyll fluorescence at liquid-nitrogen
temperature and the light quality-dependent changes in the yield of chlorophyll fluorescence at room temperature. The financial
problems were solved by constructing several pieces of electronic equipment using skills obtained by repairing radios when
I was a high-school and college student.
Keywords Cation-dependent distribution of light energy - Chlorophyll fluorescence at liquid-nitrogen temperature - Energy-dependent quenching - Induction kinetics - State transitions