Quantum Zeno Effect in Radical-Ion-Pair Recombination Reactions

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that radical-ion-pair recombination acts as a continuous quantum measurement, leading to the quantum Zeno effect, which explains the unusually long-lived radical-ion pairs observed in biological and chemical processes.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum measurement perspective to radical-ion-pair recombination, revealing the quantum Zeno effect as a key factor in their longevity.

Findings

Recombination is a continuous quantum measurement process.

The quantum Zeno effect explains long-lived radical-ion pairs.

Provides a quantum framework for biochemical reactions.

Abstract

Radical-ion pairs are ubiquitous in a wide range of biochemical reactions, ranging from photosynthesis to magnetic sensitive chemical reactions underlying avian magnetic navigation. We here show that the charge recombination of a radical-ion-pair is a continuous quantum measurement process that interrogates the spin state of the pair. This naturally leads to the appearance of the quantum Zeno effect, explaining a large amount of data on unusually long-lived radical-ion-pairs.