title: A simple model for exploring the role of quantum coherence and the environment in excitonic energy transfer.
abstract: We investigate the role of quantum coherence in modulating the energy transfer rate between two independent energy donors and a single acceptor participating in an excitonic energy transfer process. The energy transfer rate depends explicitly on the nature of the initial coherent superposition state of the two donors and we connect it to the observed absorption profile of the acceptor and the stimulated emission profile of the energy donors. We consider simple models with mesoscopic environments interacting with the donors and the acceptor and compare the expression we obtained for the energy transfer rate with the results of numerical integration.
authors.affiliation: School of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, CET Campus, Sreekaryam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India 695016. sreenath@iisertvm.ac.in.
authors.forename: Sreenath K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Manikandan
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shaji