Hi all, Prof. Paul Brumer http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/ppl/faculty_profile.php?id=7 is visiting Boston for Theochem. I strongly recommend his talk, he's quite funny. There are some slots available for meeting, lunch, and dinner with him. Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in attending any of the following: A) Kosher dinner (Wednesday 18, after Theochem) will occur at Rubin's http://rubinsboston.com/ which we will reach by cab from Theochem at MIT. B) Scientific discussion (Thursday 19, 11:15 AM to 12 PM), probably at the Division Room (TBA). C) Kosher lunch (Thursday 19, 12 - 1:30 PM), probably at the Division Room (TBA). Food catered from Milk Street Cafe http://www.milkstreetcafe.com/ More importantly, here's the abstract of his talk, Quantum Coherence And Incoherence In Molecular Dynamics And Control4/18/12 4:00PM MIT Building 4, Room 231Paul BrumerUniversity of Toronto<http://www.chem.utoronto.ca/ppl/faculty_profile.php?id=7> [image: Paul Brumer] An essential feature of quantum mechanics is interference resulting from multiple pathways to the same final state. Loss of this coherence (i.e. decoherence) can lead to classical-like behavior. I will review the nature of this interference, the origins of decoherence, and the role of perturbations, such as lasers, in creating quantum coherence in molecules. Examples of the role of coherence in controlling molecular processes (such as internal conversion and chemical reactions) will be described. The role (?) of quantum coherence in natural biological processes will be discussed, both in models of retinal isomerization and light harvesting systems. Time permitting I will introduce a general scheme for assessing when a given external perturbation creates quantum interference in a molecular system upon which it acts. -- Joel Yuen-Zhou PhD candidate in Chemical Physics Harvard University CCB, 12 Oxford St. Mailbox 107, Cambridge, MA, USA.