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SUMMARY:Electronic coherence and recoherence in pigment protein complexes:
  The fundamental role of non-equilibrium vibrational structures - Alex Chi
 n (University of Cambridge)
DTSTART:20121101T141500Z
DTEND:20121101T151500Z
UID:TALK39932@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Paul Skrzypczyk
DESCRIPTION:Recent observations of oscillatory features in the optical res
 ponse of photosynthetic complexes have revealed evidence for surprisingly 
 long-lasting electronic coherences which can coexist with energy transport
 . These observations have ignited multidisciplinary interest in the possib
 le role of quantum effects in biological systems\, including the fundament
 al - though still unresolved - question of how electronic coherence can su
 rvive in biological surroundings. Here we show that in photosynthetic comp
 lexes\, non-trivial spectral structures in environmental fluctuations can 
 allow for non-equilibrium processes that lead to the spontaneous generatio
 n and sustenance of electronic coherence even at physiological temperature
 s. Developing advanced new simulation tools to treat these effects\, this 
 new insight provides a firm microscopic basis to successfully reproduce th
 e experimentally observed coherence times in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson comp
 lex\, and thus sets the ground for the future assessment of the role of qu
 antum effects in photosynthetic light harvesting efficiency.
LOCATION:MR4\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences
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