Coherence and decoherence in biological systems: principles of noise-assisted transport and the origin of long-lived coherences
Open accessAbstract
The quantum dynamics of transport networks in the presence of noisy environments has recently received renewed attention with the discovery of long-lived coherences in different photosynthetic complexes. This experimental evidence has raised two fundamental questions: firstly, what are the mechanisms supporting long-lived coherences; and, secondly, how can we assess the possible functional role that the interplay of noise and quantum coherence might play in the seemingly optimal operation of biological systems under natural conditions? Here, we review recent results, illuminate them by means of two paradigmatic systems (the Fenna–Matthew–Olson complex and the light-harvesting complex LHII) and present new progress on both questions.
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Dephasing noise can shift the site energies, thereby helping to overcome energy gaps, and improving transport between sites without the loss of excitations from the system.
“Dephasing noise can shift the site energies, thereby helping to overcome these energy gaps, and improving transport between sites without the loss of excitations from the system [46].”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [46]
Advantages of quantum coherence in random walks may be destroyed by decoherence.
“The advantages of quantum coherence in random walks [9] may for example be destroyed by decoherence [24]”
From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [24]
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- Authors
- Chin, A. W., Huelga, S. F., & Plenio, M. B.
- Affiliations
- Universität Ulm (DE)
- Venue
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
- Publisher
- The Royal Society
- Published
- 2012-08-13
- Volume
- 370
- Issue
- 1972
- Pages
- 3638-3657
- ISSN
- 1364-503X (ISSN-L)
- 1471-2962
- OpenAlex
- W2152146676
- Cited by
- 145
- References
- 41
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 7.10
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- arxiv.org
- Locations
- Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics › Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Statistical and Nonlinear Physics › Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Physical and Theoretical Chemistry › Photochemistry and Electron Transfer Studies
- Keywords
- quantum coherence, decoherence, long-lived coherence, photosynthesis, Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex
- MeSH terms
- Electron Transport, Energy Transfer, Light, Models, Biological, Models, Chemical, Photosynthesis, Quantum Theory, Light-Harvesting Protein Complexes
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