Photoinduced Quantum Tunneling Model Applied to an Organic Molecule

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum tunneling model triggered by light to simulate electron transfer in photosynthesis, providing exact mathematical solutions and comparing results with experimental data from a bacterial molecule.

Contribution

It presents a novel, exactly solvable quantum tunneling model for biological electron transfer, linking theoretical predictions with experimental observations.

Findings

Calculated tunneling times match experimental data

Model successfully simulates photosynthetic electron transfer

Provides a new framework for quantum biological studies

Abstract

The paper proposes a photoinduced quantum tunneling model of electron transfer through four quantum square wells potential to simulate the biological process of photosynthesis in bacteria. The problem is mathematically exact with mathematical transcendental equations solved graphically. This simplified model allowed the calculation of the characteristic tunneling times of the process. A comparison is made between the results obtained in the model and the experimental data of the organic molecule Rhodobacter sphaeroides photosynthetic process.