title: Spatially correlated fluctuations and coherence dynamics in photosynthesis.
abstract: Recent multicolor photon-echo experiments revealed a long-lasting quantum coherence between excitations on the donor and acceptor in photosynthetic systems. Identifying the origin of the quantum coherence is essential to fully understand photosynthesis. Here we present a generic model in which a strong intermolecular steric restoring force in densely packed pigment-protein complexes results in a spatial correlation in conformational (static) variations of chromophores, which in turn induces an effective coupling between high-frequency (dynamic) fluctuations in donor and acceptor. The spatially correlated static and dynamic fluctuations provide a favorable environment to maintain quantum coherence, which can consistently explain the photon-echo measurements.
authors.affiliation: Physical Sciences Division, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA. zhi-gang.yu@sri.com
authors.forename: Z G
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Berding
authors.forename: Haobin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000737:chemistry; D003116:Color; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008027:Light; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D017785:Photons; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D001554:Benzene