Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is a common analytical technique used in solution-phase studies. Colloquially known as a "molecular ruler", the technique takes advantage of the distance-dependent radiationless energy transfer between a donor chromophore to an acceptor chromophore. We have been working towards exploiting this phenomenon in the gas-phase for studying conformations of biologically-relevant systems.
Examples:
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Czar, M. F.; Zosel, F.; König, I.; Nettels, D.; Wunderlich, B.; Schuler, B.; Zarrine-Afsar, A.; Jockusch, R. A. Gas-Phase FRET Efficiency Measurements To Probe the Conformation of Mass-Selected Proteins. Anal. Chem. 2015, 87 (15), 7559–7565.
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Talbot, F. O.; Rullo, A.; Yao, H.; Jockusch, R. A. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer in Gaseous, Mass-Selected Polyproline Peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132 (45), 16156–16164.