Work

How Quantum Coherence Assists Photosynthetic Light-Harvesting

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: This perspective examines how hundreds of pigment molecules in purple bacteria cooperate through quantum coherence to achieve remarkable light harvesting efficiency. Quantum coherent sharing of excitation, which modifies excited state energy levels and combines transition dipole moments, enables rapid transfer of excitation over large distances. Purple bacteria exploit the resulting excitation transfer to engage many antenna proteins in light harvesting, thereby increasing the rate of photon absorption and energy conversion. We highlight here how quantum coherence comes about and plays a key role in the photosynthetic apparatus of purple bacteria.

Source: The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

DOI: 10.1021/jz201459c

Authors: J. Strümpfer, M. Şener, K. Schulten

Institution: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Language: English

Topic: Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Center for Research Resources

Award: RESOURCE FOR MACROMOLECULAR MODELING AND BIOINFORMATICS