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Photosynthesis

Quantum design for a light trap

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The photosynthetic apparatus of cryptophyte algae is odd — its pigments are farther apart than is expected for efficient functioning. A study into how this apparatus works so well finds quantum effects at play.

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Figure 1: Calculated dynamics of excited electronic states in a photosynthetic light-harvesting complexs6,7.

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van Grondelle, R., Novoderezhkin, V. Quantum design for a light trap. Nature 463, 614–615 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/463614a

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