Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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SYMN: Intersectional Symposium Transport and Spectroscopy in Molecular Nanostructures

SYMN 1: Transport and Spectroscopy in Molecular Nanostructures

SYMN 1.3: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 11:30–12:00, HSZ 01

Multidimensional Optical Spectroscopy of Biological Complexes — •Shaul Mukamel — University of California, Irvine, Department of Chemistry, Irvine, CA 92697-2025, USA

The response of complex molecules to sequences of femtosecond optical pulses provides multidimensional snapshots of their structure and electronic and vibrational dynamics. Two-dimensional correlation plots of the signals show characteristic cross-peak patterns which carry information about structures, equilibrium binding fluctuations and relaxation processes.

2D signals of photosynthetic light harvesting complexes reveal couplings between chromosphores and signatures of quantum coherence. Quantum effects stemming from the entanglement of chromophores, and their spectroscopic signatures are predicted. Simulations of the photosynthetic reaction center of photosystem II based on the Lindbladt approach to quantum exciton dissipation clearly establish oscillatory energy transport at room temperature originating from interference of quantum pathways. Entangled photons provide new avenues for controlling and manipulating these signals.

Simulations will be presented for chiral infrared and ultraviolet probes of the structure and electrostatic fluctuations in amyloid fibrils. Time-domain experiments that employ sequences of attosecond x-ray pulses in order to probe electronic and nuclear dynamics in molecules are proposed. By creating multiple core holes at selected atoms and controlled times it is possible to study the dynamics and correlations of valence electrons as they respond to these perturbations.