Date of Graduation
8-2022
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Chemistry & Biochemistry
Advisor/Mentor
Gea-Banacloche, Julio
Committee Member/Reader
Aloia, Lindsey
Committee Member/Second Reader
Kilyanek, Stefan
Committee Member/Third Reader
Millett, Francis
Abstract
Photosynthesis in living organisms is one of the most efficient, natural energy harvesting processes on Earth. The absorption of light energy as photons directly energizes electrons in metabolite molecules. These molecules transfer their high energy electrons through a chain system to provide the energy needed for carbon dioxide metabolism. Recently, it has been a subject of debate how this energy transfer via electron transport achieved such high efficiency. One hypothesis is that this transfer system displays fundamentally quantum mechanical behaviors, such as coherence. Here, I will briefly define this concept in quantum mechanics, and explain the role it might play in excited electron energy transfer. I will also discuss alternative hypotheses proposed that claim photosynthetic energy transfer efficiency may not be explained entirely or at all by quantum coherence, as well as what all possibilities could mean for the future of quantum biology.
Keywords
quantum coherence, excitons, quantum biology
Citation
Nelson, M. (2022). A Review of Quantum Coherence and its Effect on Photosynthetic Efficiency in PSII and FMO Complexes. Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/chbcuht/36