Quantum - coherent dynamics in photosynthetic charge separation revealed by wavelet analysis
Elisabet Romero1, Javier Prior2, Alex W Chin3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. eli@few.vu.nl.
Scientific Reports
|June 8, 2017
Summary
Photosystem II Reaction Center (PSII RC) uses quantum dynamics for efficient solar energy conversion. Wavelet analysis reveals sustained vibronic coherence, crucial for optimizing charge separation pathways.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Biology
- Photosynthesis Research
- Spectroscopy
Background:
- Photosystem II Reaction Center (PSII RC) is vital for photosynthetic solar energy conversion.
- Vibronic coherence plays a role in optimizing energy conversion through quantum dynamics.
- Conventional Fourier transform analysis of 2D electronic spectroscopy (2DES) data loses real-time coherence evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To apply wavelet analysis to PSII RC 2DES data for time-resolved insights.
- To investigate the real-time dynamics of vibronic coherence in PSII RC.
- To understand how quantum coherence influences charge separation processes.
Main Methods:
- Two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) on the PSII RC.
- Redfield modeling of experimental 2DES data.
- Application of wavelet analysis to 2DES data for time-resolved frequency maps.
Main Results:
- Identified sustained coherence between excitons in competing charge separation pathways (>500 fs).
- Demonstrated coherence between exciton and charge-transfer states for at least 1 picosecond (ps).
- Obtained time-resolved 2D frequency maps revealing real-time coherence dynamics.
Conclusions:
- PSII RC utilizes quantum coherence to explore multiple electron transfer pathways.
- Coherence enables directed, ultrafast, and efficient electron transfer in photosynthesis.
- Vibronic coherence is a key mechanism for optimizing photosynthetic energy conversion.
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