Scientists find quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis

Feb. 4, 2010
Chemists at the University of Toronto and the University of New South Wales have observed quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae.

Chemists at the University of Toronto (Toronto, ON, Canada) and the University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia) have made a major contribution to the emerging field of quantum biology, observing quantum mechanics at work in photosynthesis in marine algae.1

"There's been a lot of excitement and speculation that nature may be using quantum mechanical practices," said Greg Scholes, a chemistry professor at the University of Toronto and the lead author of the study. "Our latest experiments show that normally functioning biological systems have the capacity to use quantum mechanics in order to optimize a process as essential to their survival as photosynthesis."

Proteins called light-harvesting complexes are used in photosynthesis to capture sunlight and funnel its energy to other proteins called reaction centers. Scholes and his colleagues isolated light-harvesting complexes from two different species of marine algae and studied their function at typical temperatures using laser-assisted 2-D electronic spectroscopy.

Light in two places at once

"We stimulated the proteins with femtosecond laser pulses to mimic the absorption of sunlight," said Scholes. "This enabled us to monitor the subsequent processes, including the movement of energy between special molecules bound in the protein, against a stop-clock. We were astonished to find clear evidence of long-lived quantum mechanical states involved in moving the energy. Our result suggests that the energy of absorbed light resides in two places at once--a quantum superposition state, or coherence--and such a state lies at the heart of quantum-mechanical theory."

Scholes noted that there are several reasons this research is of interest. "First, it means that quantum mechanical probability laws can prevail over the classical laws of kinetics in this complex biological system, even at normal temperatures," he said. "The energy can thereby flow efficiently by--counterintuitively--traversing several alternative paths through the antenna proteins simultaneously. It also raises some other potentially fascinating questions, such as, have these organisms developed quantum-mechanical strategies for light-harvesting to gain an evolutionary advantage? It suggests that algae knew about quantum mechanics nearly two billion years before humans."

The original University of Toronto press release can be found here.

REFERENCE:

1. Elisabetta Collini et al., Nature 463, 644-647 (4 February 2010) doi:10.1038/nature08811.

About the Author

John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.

Sponsored Recommendations

Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series

March 19, 2024
IDEX Health & Science sets a new standard with our Melles Griot® XPLAN™ CCG Lens Series fluorescence microscope imaging systems. Access superior-quality optics with off-the-shelf...

Spatial Biology

March 19, 2024
Spatial Biology refers to the field that integrates spatial information into biological research, allowing for the study of biological systems in their native spatial context....

Custom-Engineered Optical Solutions for Your Application

March 19, 2024
We combine advanced optical design and manufacturing technology, with decades of experience in critical applications, to take you from first designs to ongoing marketplace success...

Semrock Optical Filters Resources

March 19, 2024
Looking for more information about Semrock optical filters? Explore sets by fluorophore, download the 2023 Semrock catalog and more.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of Laser Focus World, create an account today!