Quantum Mechanics of Photosynthetic Light Harvesting Machinery

!Kaggen · 13th November 2011, 12:55 AM

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Interesting argument for QM influence on biological systems

Cheetah · 13th November 2011, 01:13 AM

Isn't all chemistry QM?

WhatRoughBeast · 13th November 2011, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by !Kaggen

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I AGREE

Interesting argument for QM influence on biological systems

Yes, indeed. Of course, anybody who tries to discuss this really needs to watch the first 3 minutes of the video to establish exactly what quantum effects are under consideration.

Also note that, of 4 "higher level" effects identified, 3 are still under investigation. Also, the presenter discusses why skepticism is reasonable.

!Kaggen · 13th November 2011, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by WhatRoughBeast

Yes, indeed. Of course, anybody who tries to discuss this really needs to watch the first 3 minutes of the video to establish exactly what quantum effects are under consideration.

Also note that, of 4 "higher level" effects identified, 3 are still under investigation. Also, the presenter discusses why skepticism is reasonable.

What I find so interesting is that the process of photosynthesis specifically is a key possibility when it comes to QM effects in biology. It is such a magical process turning light into energy. Using this process is , I think, is key to future energy sustainability.
Biohydrogen^WP production is what interests me.

Tez · 13th November 2011, 12:19 PM

I havent watched the video but know a lot about the topic. What is most interesting is that evolution has optimized an "inbetween" level of quantumness. You can work out the efficiencies if all the processes were purely quantum. And you can work them out of they were purely classical. And nether matches the observed high efficiencies - so we now know the light harvesting complexes make use of some amount of noise/decoherence to enhance their efficiency, but not too much to destroy all quantum coherence. Very cool.

13th November 2011, 01:13 AM	#2
Cheetah Thinker Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Africa Posts: 126	Isn't all chemistry QM?
	__________________ "... when you dig my grave, could you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain" - DMB

13th November 2011, 10:40 AM	#4
!Kaggen Illuminator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Town Posts: 3,440	Originally Posted by WhatRoughBeast Yes, indeed. Of course, anybody who tries to discuss this really needs to watch the first 3 minutes of the video to establish exactly what quantum effects are under consideration. Also note that, of 4 "higher level" effects identified, 3 are still under investigation. Also, the presenter discusses why skepticism is reasonable. What I find so interesting is that the process of photosynthesis specifically is a key possibility when it comes to QM effects in biology. It is such a magical process turning light into energy. Using this process is , I think, is key to future energy sustainability. Biohydrogen^WP production is what interests me.
	__________________ "Anyway, why is a finely-engineered machine of wire and silicon less likely to be conscious than two pounds of warm meat?" Pixy Misa http://bokashiworld.wordpress.com/

13th November 2011, 12:19 PM	#5
Tez Graduate Poster Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: London Posts: 1,104	I havent watched the video but know a lot about the topic. What is most interesting is that evolution has optimized an "inbetween" level of quantumness. You can work out the efficiencies if all the processes were purely quantum. And you can work them out of they were purely classical. And nether matches the observed high efficiencies - so we now know the light harvesting complexes make use of some amount of noise/decoherence to enhance their efficiency, but not too much to destroy all quantum coherence. Very cool.
	__________________ "There's two possible outcomes: if the result confirms the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery. If the result is contrary to the hypothesis, then you've made a discovery.” --Enrico Fermi www.physicsnerd.com