Probing quantum features of photosynthetic organisms

TL;DR

This paper proposes a scheme to detect non-classical quantum features in photosynthetic bacteria by using light as a mediator, demonstrating the feasibility with realistic parameters and revealing strong coupling evidence.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to probe quantum discord in bacteria without detailed modeling, using bacteria as mediators of entanglement between light modes.

Findings

Steady state entanglement between probes is achievable.

Entanglement between probes and bacteria confirms strong coupling.

The scheme is feasible with current experimental parameters.

Abstract

Recent experiments have demonstrated strong coupling between living bacteria and light. Here we propose a scheme capable of revealing non-classical features of the bacteria (quantum discord of light-bacteria correlations) without exact modelling of the organisms and their interactions with external world. The scheme puts the bacteria in a role of mediators of quantum entanglement between otherwise non-interacting probing light modes. We then propose a plausible model of this experiment, using recently achieved parameters, demonstrating the feasibility of the scheme. Within this model we find that the steady state entanglement between the probes, which does not depend on the initial conditions, is accompanied by entanglement between the probes and bacteria, and provides independent evidence of the strong coupling between them.