Quantum-Coherent Electronic Energy Transfer: Did Nature Think of It First?
Author: Gregory D. Scholes*
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Institute for Optical Sciences and Centre for Quantum Information and Quantum Control, University of Toronto, 80 St. George Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3H6 Canada
Conference/Journal: J Phys. Chem. Lett.
Date published: 2010
Other:
Volume ID: 1 , Pages: 2-8 , Special Notes: r 2010 American Chemical Society DOI: 10.1021/jz900062f , Word Count: 111
Recent research suggests that electronic energy transfer in complex
biological and chemical systems can involve quantum coherence, even at ambient
temperature conditions. It is particularly notable that this phenomenon has been
found in some photosynthetic proteins. The role of these proteins in photosynth-
esis is introduced. The meaning of quantum-coherent energy transfer is explained,
and it is compared to F€orster energy transfer. Broad, interdisciplinary questions for
future work are noted. For example, how can chemists use quantum coherence in
synthetic systems (perhaps in organic photovoltaics)? Why did certain photosyn-
thetic organisms evolve to use quantum coherence in light harvesting? Are these
electronic excitations entangled?
full text: http://139.57.180.167/4P03/Scholes3.pdf
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