Energy transfer from an emitting molecule to an absorbing half-space is considered from the viewpoint of electromagnetic theory. The lifetime of a dipole emitter in the presence of a mirror is determined through a calculation of the complex Poynting vector in the dielectric surrounding the dipole. This method has the advantage over previous approaches to this problem in that the radiative and nonradiative components of the lifetime expression may be rigorously separated. The influence on emitter lifetime of a mirror of finite thickness is also described. A simple .expression is derived describing the energy transfer rate in these layered systems. It is shown that nonradiative energy transfer results from coupling of the near field of the dipole to the surface plasmon modes in the metallic absorber. The Forster energy transfer rate law is discussed in the context of the present theory
