title: Non-classicality of the molecular vibrations assisting exciton energy transfer at room temperature.
abstract: Advancing the debate on quantum effects in light-initiated reactions in biology requires clear identification of non-classical features that these processes can exhibit and utilize. Here we show that in prototype dimers present in a variety of photosynthetic antennae, efficient vibration-assisted energy transfer in the sub-picosecond timescale and at room temperature can manifest and benefit from non-classical fluctuations of collective pigment motions. Non-classicality of initially thermalized vibrations is induced via coherent exciton-vibration interactions and is unambiguously indicated by negativities in the phase-space quasi-probability distribution of the effective collective mode coupled to the electronic dynamics. These quantum effects can be prompted upon incoherent input of excitation. Our results therefore suggest that investigation of the non-classical properties of vibrational motions assisting excitation and charge transport, photoreception and chemical sensing processes could be a touchstone for revealing a role for non-trivial quantum phenomena in biology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Edward J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olaya-Castro
mesh_terms: D004583:Electrons; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008027:Light; D010788:Photosynthesis; D011789:Quantum Theory; D013696:Temperature; D014732:Vibration