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Journal of Physics Conference Series

Quantum coherence in biological systems

Seth Lloyd

Published Jul 20, 2011• 329 citations
Publisher

Abstract

This paper reviews the role of quantum mechanics in biological systems, and shows how the interplay between coherence and decoherence can strongly enhance quantum transport in photosynthesis.
DOI
10.1088/1742-6596/302/1/012037

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In the emerging field of quantum biology, we begin to see how biological systems exploit quantum mechanics as their efficiency and certain phenomena such as photosynthesis and enzymatic reactions cannot be explained only by classical physics. This paper will shortly review the foundations and axioms of quantum mechanics including wave particle duality, Heisenburg's uncertainty principle and the probabilistic interpretation of a wave function before exploring the first primary topic-quantum tunneling in enzymes. The paper will then provide deeper insights into quantum effects in photosynthesis including coherence, entanglement and the photoelectric effect. Additionally, quantum biology will have profound implications on the future of quantum technology. Leveraging the information scientists have gained about the quantum mechanical functions of biological systems, this paper will delve into the applications of this know-how in quantum technology.
There have been many claims that quantum mechanics plays a key role in the origin and/or operation of biological organisms, beyond merely providing the basis for the shapes and sizes of biological molecules and their chemical affinities. These range from Schroedinger's suggestion that quantum fluctuations produce mutations, to Hameroff and Penrose's conjecture that quantum coherence in microtubules is linked to consciousness. I review some of these claims in this paper, and discuss the serious problem of decoherence. I advance some further conjectures about quantum information processing in bio-systems. Some possible experiments are suggested.
There have been many claims that quantum mechanics plays a key role in the origin and/or operation of biological organisms, beyond merely providing the basis for the shapes and sizes of biological molecules and their chemical affinities. These range from Schrödinger’s suggestion that quantum fluctuations produce mutations, to Hameroff and Penrose’s conjecture that quantum coherence in microtubules is linked to consciousness. I review some of these claims in this paper, and discuss the serious problem of decoherence. I advance some further conjectures about quantum information processing in bio-systems. Some possible experiments are suggested.
Many living organisms can exploit quantum mechanical effects to gain distinct biological advantages. In plants, photosynthesis uses quantum coherence to achieve near 100% efficiency in energy transfer. With advances in experimental techniques, two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy can reveal dynamic processes such as coherence and coupling within a system, and it plays an important role in studying energy transfer in photosynthesis. On the theory side, methods such as the generalized Bloch-Redfield theory and the hierarchical equations of motion are used to model photosynthetic systems. Quantum simulation, as a high-efficiency and low-complexity approach, has also made progress across various platforms in the study of photosynthesis. In recent years, a series of studies has introduced quantum coherence into artificial systems to enhance energy transfer efficiency, laying the groundwork for the design of coherent devices with efficient energy transport. Birds can use the weak geomagnetic field and spin-dependent chemical reactions to detect direction. Theoretical frameworks for animal navigation include magnetite-based mechanisms, magnetoreceptor genes, and the radical-pair mechanism. Quantum simulations of navigation have also advanced on multiple platforms. Inspired by animal navigation, diverse quantum effects have been applied to improve sensing and to support navigation tasks. This paper presents a comprehensive review of progress on quantum coherence in photosynthesis and avian navigation, along with related theoretical methods, quantum simulation approaches, and research on quantum coherent devices.
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