Radical-Ion-Pair Spin Decoherence and the Quantum Efficiency of Photosynthetic Charge Separation

We have pioneered the fundamental quantum dynamics of radical-ion-pair reactions, elucidating the basic spin-decoherence mechanism pertaining to these biochemical reactions. Radical-ion pair reactions appear in the avian magnetic compass, but more importantly, they participate in the cascade of electron-transfer reactions taking place in photosynthetic reaction centers. We will here present new insights on how the fundamental quantum dynamics of radical-ion pair reactions affect the quantum efficiency of charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers.