Ultrafast light harvesting processes in photosynthesis - Gregory Scholes

Photosynthetic light harvesting complexes are sophisticated multichromophoric assemblies used to regulate and concentrate photo-excitations for delivery to reaction centers under wide-ranging incident irradiances [1]. They provide wonderful model systems for the study of energy transfer mechanisms in well-defined structures [2,3]. I will address the current status and issues regarding quantum effects and coherent ultrafast energy transfer in light harvesting complexes of cryptophyte algae.
[1] G. D. Scholes, T. Mirkovic, D. B. Turner, F. Fassioli and A. Buchleitner “Solar light harvesting by energy transfer: From ecology to quantum mechanics” Energy Environ. Sci. 5, 9374–9393 (2012).
[2] G. D. Scholes, G. R. Fleming, A. Olaya-Castro and R. van Grondelle, “Lessons from nature about solar light harvesting” Nature Chem. 3, 763–774 (2011).
[3] E. E. Ostroumov, R. M. Mulvaney, R. J. Cogdell, G. D. Scholes, “Broadband 2D Spectroscopy Reveals a Carotenoid Dark State in Purple Bacteria”, Science 340, 52–56 (2013).