Excitation energy transfer: Study with non-Markovian dynamics

TL;DR

This study uses a numerical path integral method to analyze non-Markovian dynamics in excitation energy transfer within photosynthesis, revealing environmental effects that enhance transfer efficiency through coherence.

Contribution

It introduces a non-perturbative numerical approach to model non-Markovian effects in EET, highlighting the role of environment in transfer efficiency.

Findings

Non-Markovian effects significantly increase EET efficiency.

Coherence prolongs transfer time rather than transfer rate.

The method accurately captures environmental influences without perturbation approximation.

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the non-Markovian dynamics of a model to mimic the excitation energy transfer (EET) between chromophores in photosynthesis systems. The numerical path integral method is used. This method includes the non-Markovian effects of the environmental affects and it does not need the perturbation approximation in solving the dynamics of systems of interest. It implies that the coherence helps the EET between chromophores through lasting the transfer time rather than enhances the transfer rate of the EET. In particular, the non-Markovian environment greatly increase the efficiency of the EET in the photosynthesis systems.