Optimization of energy transport in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex via site-varying pigment-protein interactions

Abstract

Energy transport in photosynthetic systems can be tremendously efficient. In particular we study exciton transport in the Fenna-Mathews-Olsen (FMO) complex found in green sulphur bacteria. The exciton dynamics and energy transfer efficiency is dependent upon the interaction with the system environment. Based upon realistic, site-dependent, models of the system-bath coupling, we show that this interaction is highly optimised in the case of FMO. Furthermore we identify two transport pathways and note that one is dominated by coherent dynamics and the other by classical energy dissipation. In particular we note a strong correlation between energy transport efficiency and coherence for exciton transfer from bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) 8 to BChl 4. The existence of two clear pathways and the role played by BChl 4 also challenges assumptions around the coupling of the FMO complex to the reaction centre.

arXiv comment12 pages, 5 figures, 2 tables

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• A general quantum algorithm for open quantum dynamics demonstrated with the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex
• Diffusive limit of non-Markovian quantum jumps
• Does electronic coherence enhance anticorrelated pigment vibrations under realistic conditions?
• Improving quantum annealing by engineering the coupling to the environment