Quantum Biology

Project description

Plants, bacteria and algae collect sunlight to store its energy and synthesize high energy molecular species to power life, a process which involves light harvesting complexes to capture, transfer and store the light energy. Surprisingly coherences are observed in the energy transfer, which point to a role of quantum concepts in photosynthesis. To address such processes we apply ultrafast spectroscopy at the single-molecule limit: with dedicated femtosecond light flashes we capture a high-speed series of ‘pictures’ of the states of individual antenna complexes after light absorption, to unveil the persistent coherence during light transport.

ICFO groups associated with the project

ICFO publications associated with the project

Broadband single-molecule excitation spectroscopy
L. Piatkowski, E. Gellings, and N.F. van Hulst,
Nature Communications, vol. 7, 2016.
Nanoantenna enhanced emission of light-harvesting complex 2: the role of resonance, polarization, and radiative and non-radiative rates
E. Wientjes, J. Renger, A.G. Curto, R. Cogdell, and N.F. van Hulst,
Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., vol. 16, pp. 24739-24746, 2014.
Strong antenna-enhanced fluorescence of a single light-harvesting complex shows photon antibunching
E. Wientjes, J. Renger, A.G. Curto, R. Cogdell, and N.F. van Hulst,
Nature Communications, vol. 5, 2014.
Ultrafast dynamics of single molecules
D. Brinks, R. Hildner, E.M.H.P. van Dijk, F.D. Stefani, J.B. Nieder, J. Hernando, and N.F. van Hulst,
Chem. Soc. Rev., vol. 43, pp. 2476-2491, 2014.
Quantum Coherent Energy Transfer over Varying Pathways in Single Light-Harvesting Complexes
R. Hildner, D. Brinks, J.B. Nieder, R.J. Cogdell, and N.F. van Hulst,
Science, vol. 340, pp. 1448-1451, 2013.
Electronic coherences and vibrational wave-packets in single molecules studied with femtosecond phase-controlled spectroscopy
R. Hildner, D. Brinks, F.D. Stefani, and N.F. van Hulst,
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, vol. 13, pp. 1888, 2011.
Femtosecond coherence and quantum control of single molecules at room temperature
R. Hildner, D. Brinks, and N.F. van Hulst,
Nature Physics, vol. 7, pp. 172-177, 2010.
Visualizing and controlling vibrational wave packets of single molecules
D. Brinks, F.D. Stefani, F. Kulzer, R. Hildner, T.H. Taminiau, Y. Avlasevich, K. Müllen, and N.F. van Hulst,
Nature, vol. 465, pp. 905-908, 2010.

External collaborations

Richard Cogdell, Glasgow University, UK. Neil Hunter, Sheffield University, UK. Martin Plenio, Susana Huelga, Ulm University, Germany. Richard Hildner, University of Bayreuth, Germany. Herschel Rabitz, Princeton University, USA. Benedetta Menucci, University of Pisa, Italy. Rienk v. Grondelle, Elisabeth Romero, VUAmsterdam, the Netherlands. Biophotonic Solutions, Inc., East Lansing, USA

Funding

ERC-Adv.Grant-2014 – n° 670949 LightNet, MINECO QUACO FIS2012-35527 and FIS2014-55563-REDC , AGAUR SGR 1540, Fundacio Privada CELLEX Barcelona