Work

Modelling of oscillations in two-dimensional echo-spectra of the Fenna–Matthews–Olson complex

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Recent experimental observations of time-dependent beatings in the two-dimensional echo-spectra of light-harvesting complexes at ambient temperatures have opened up the question of whether coherence and wave-like behaviour play a significant role in photosynthesis. We carry out a numerical study of the absorption and echo-spectra of the Fenna–Matthews–Olson (FMO) complex in Chlorobium tepidum and analyse the requirements in the theoretical model needed to reproduce beatings in the calculated spectra. The energy transfer in the FMO pigment–protein complex is theoretically described by an exciton Hamiltonian coupled to a phonon bath which accounts for the pigments' electronic and vibrational excitations, respectively. We use the hierarchical equations of motions method to treat the strong couplings in a non-perturbative way. We show that the oscillations in the two-dimensional echo-spectra persist in the presence of thermal noise and static disorder.

Source: New Journal of Physics

DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/14/2/023018

Authors: Birgit Hein, Christoph Kreisbeck, Tobias Kramer, Mirta Rodríguez

Institutions: University of Regensburg, Harvard University, Instituto de Estructura de la Materia

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: gold

Estimated APC paid: $775

Funders: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences