Center for Excitonics
Seminar Series Announcement
The Center for Excitonics (
http://www.rle.mit.edu/excitonics) invites you
to join us at the
first seminar of the Fall 2009 series. Please forward this information on
to others who might be interested
in attending this seminar.
Title: Quantum Dimension of Photosynthesis
Revealed by Angular Resolved Coherent Imaging
Presenter: Professor Ian Mercer
Organization: Department of Physics, University College
Dublin
Date: September 29, 2009
Time: 3:00 - 4:00pm
Place: 36-428
Refreshments: Yes
URL:
http://www.rle.mit.edu/excitonics/mercer-092909.html
abstract
Understanding the role of coherent electronic motion is expected to
resolve general questions of importance in macromolecular energy transfer,
in nature and in devices. Significant progress has been made using
coherent optical four wave-mixing, however the interpretation of
measurements is difficult in particular where multiple quantum transitions
are strongly coupled, and new methods are required for an improved
feedback to molecular simulation. We will look at a novel laser method,
Angle-Resolved Coherent (ARC) imaging, that separates quantum coherences
from energy transfers in to orthogonal dimensions, in an instantaneous
two-dimensional mapping. The power of the new method is demonstrated with
the light harvesting complex II (LH2) of purple bacteria. We reveal an
evolving quantum coherence with a time-ordered matter-selection of
transition energies at ambient temperature. We also reveal a coherent
component to the energy transfer between macromolecular rings and a
correlation between excitation and emission energies within a ring at
ambient temperature.
bio
Ian Mercer is currently lecturing in Physics at University College Dublin
in Ireland. He has previous experience as a laser company CTO (UK), a
lecturer in Chemistry at Imperial College (UK) and a PI and Team Leader at
LLNL (US). His has interests in combining new laser methods, laser
technology and molecular-optical simulation for revealing biomolecular and
electronic device function.
energies within a ring at ambient temperature.