Toward quantum simulations of biological information flow

TL;DR

This paper proposes using an analogue quantum simulator with ultra-cold atoms to study quantum effects in biological energy transport, aiming to clarify their role and advantages in living systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to simulate biological quantum transport using ultra-cold atom techniques, bridging physics and biology.

Findings

Potential to validate models of biological quantum transport

Insights into quantum coherence in biological environments

A tunable platform for studying energy and electron transport

Abstract

Recent advances in the spectroscopy of biomolecules have highlighted the possibility of quantum coherence playing an active role in biological energy transport. The revelation that quantum coherence can survive in the hot and wet environment of biology has generated a lively debate across both the physics and biology communities. In particular, it remains unclear to what extent non-trivial quantum effects are utilised in biology and what advantage, if any, they afford. We propose an analogue quantum simulator, based on currently available techniques in ultra-cold atom physics, to study a model of energy and electron transport based on the Holstein Hamiltonian By simulating the salient aspects of a biological system in a tunable laboratory setup, we hope to gain insight into the validity of several theoretical models of biological quantum transport in a variety of relevant parameter regimes.