Magnetic Sensitivity and Entanglement Dynamics of the Chemical Compass

TL;DR

This paper explores the quantum limits of a biochemical-based magnetometer using radical-ion-pair reactions, highlighting its potential to rival traditional magnetic sensors and examining the role of quantum coherence and entanglement.

Contribution

It introduces a novel biochemical magnetometer based on radical-ion-pair reactions and analyzes its quantum coherence and entanglement dynamics.

Findings

Radical-ion-pair reactions can serve as competitive magnetic field sensors.

Quantum coherence and entanglement underpin the sensor's operation.

The system offers insights into fundamental quantum dynamics.

Abstract

We present the quantum limits to the magnetic sensitivity of a new kind of magnetometer based on biochemical reactions. Radical-ion-pair reactions, the biochemical system underlying the chemical compass, are shown to offer a new and unique physical realization of a magnetic field sensor competitive to modern atomic or condensed matter magnetometers. We elaborate on the quantum coherence and entanglement dynamics of this sensor, showing that they provide the physical basis for testing our understanding of the fundamental quantum dynamics of radical-ion-pair reactions.