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SUMMARY:The Quantum Design of Photosynthesis II - Elisabet Romero\, VU Uni
 versity
DTSTART:20131024T144500Z
DTEND:20131024T154500Z
UID:TALK48116@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Gareth Conduit
DESCRIPTION:The crucial step in the conversion of solar energy to chemical
  energy in Photosynthesis is the separation of charges by the reaction cen
 ter. However\, the fundamental mechanism responsible for the near unity qu
 antum efficiency of this process is unknown. Here we elucidate the role of
  coherence in determining the efficiency of charge separation in the plant
  photosystem II reaction centre (PSII RC) by comprehensively combining exp
 eriment (two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy) and theory (standard Red
 field theory). We reveal the presence of electronic coherence between exci
 ton and charge-separated states maintained by vibrational modes and demons
 trate that electronic coherence promotes efficient and ultrafast charge se
 paration. We conclude that the discovered coherent mechanism operational i
 n PSII RC can be used to design artificial photosynthetic devices with nea
 rly 100% photoconversion efficiency.\n
LOCATION:TCM Seminar Room\, Cavendish Laboratory
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