Correlation-dependent coherent to incoherent transitions in resonant energy transfer dynamics

TL;DR

This paper explores how energy transfer dynamics transition from coherent to incoherent as temperature increases, highlighting the role of spatial correlations and multi-phonon effects beyond weak coupling approximations.

Contribution

It reveals the impact of spatial correlations on the coherence-incoherence transition in energy transfer, incorporating multi-phonon effects beyond standard weak-coupling models.

Findings

Transition temperature depends on spatial correlation strength.

Strong correlations can sustain coherence at high temperatures.

Multi-phonon effects are crucial in the transition dynamics.

Abstract

I investigate energy transfer in a donor-acceptor pair beyond weak system-bath coupling. I identify a transition from coherent to incoherent dynamics with increasing temperature, due to multi-phonon effects not captured by a standard weak-coupling treatment. The crossover temperature has a marked dependence on the degree of spatial correlation between fluctuations experienced at the two system sites. For strong correlations, this leads to the possibility of coherence surviving into a high temperature regime.