S0 ® S2
S0 ® S1
S1 ® S0
200
300
250
S1
S0
S2
Consider the general case shown below:
Here are depicted two principle absorption bands for a compound along with and the emission band.  The energy level diagram corresponding to this system is also depicted.
The directions of the absorption dipoles – relative to the nuclear framework – may differ greatly for the two transitions as illustrated on the right.
S0 ® S1
S0 ® S2
Dipole IV