Radical-ion-pair reactions are the biochemical equivalent of the optical double-slit experiment

Radical-ion-pair reactions were recently shown to represent a rich biophysical laboratory for the application of quantum measurement theory methods and concepts. Here we show that radical-ion-pair reactions essentially form a nonlinear biochemical double-slit interferometer. Quantum coherence effect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics Vol. 83; no. 5 Pt 2; p. 056118
Main Author Kominis, Iannis K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.05.2011
Subjects
Biochemistry
Interferometry
Models, Theoretical
Optical Phenomena
Quantum Theory
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Summary:Radical-ion-pair reactions were recently shown to represent a rich biophysical laboratory for the application of quantum measurement theory methods and concepts. Here we show that radical-ion-pair reactions essentially form a nonlinear biochemical double-slit interferometer. Quantum coherence effects are visible when "which-path" information is limited, and the incoherent limit is approached when measurement-induced decoherence sets in. Based on this analogy with the optical double-slit experiment we derive and elaborate on the fundamental master equation of spin-selective radical-ion-pair reactions that covers the continuous range from complete incoherence to maximum singlet-triplet coherence.
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.83.056118