Role of quantum coherence in chromophoric energy transport

Understand

The role of quantum coherence and the environment in the dynamics of excitation energy transfer is not fully understood.

• In this work, we introduce the concept of dynamical contributions of various physical processes to the energy transfer efficiency.
• We develop two complementary approaches, based on a Green's function method and energy transfer susceptibilities, and quantify the importance of the Hamiltonian evolution, phonon-induced decoherence, and spatial relaxation pathways.
• We investigate the Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein complex, where we find a contribution of coherent dynamics of about 10% and of relaxation of 80%.