  Ultraweak bioluminescence - the emission of biophotons - remains an
experimentally well-established, but theoretically poorly understood
phenomenon. This paper presents several related investigations into the
physical process of both spontaneous biophoton emission and delayed
luminescence. Since light intensities depend upon the modulus squared of their
corresponding electric fields we first make some general estimates about the
inherent electric fields within various biological systems. Since photon
emission from living matter following an initial excitation ("delayed
luminescence") typically does not follow a simple exponential decay law after
excitation we discuss such non-exponential decays from a general theoretical
perspective and argue that they are often to be expected and why. We then
discuss the dynamics behind some nonlinear rate equations, connecting them both
to biological growth rates and biophoton emission rates, noting a possible
connection with cancer. We then return to non-exponential decay laws seen for
delayed luminescence in an experimental context and again note a possible
connection with cancer.
