quantum coherence tagged posts

Sima Baghbanzadeh et al. Geometry, Supertransfer, and Optimality in the Light Harvesting of Purple Bacteria, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters (2016). DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.6b01779

In its billions of years on earth, plant life has become super-efficient at using light – and now it’s showing how it does it. A quantum – minuscule – examination of chlorophyll within certain purple bacteria shows an exceptionally efficient geometric arrangement for light harvesting, say scientists from The University of Queensland and Iran’s Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences. UQ’s Dr Ivan Kassal, said the bacteria used “quantum coherence” – particles’ wave-like properties – to harvest light during photosynthesis.

“Inside, the bacteria’s chlorophyll molecules – which collect en...