Can laser light induce photosynthesis?

[LukeJD]

Warning: This is a potentially stupid question!

Is it possible to induce photosynthesis with laser light?

What kind of published work is there on it?

Thanks!

 

[Ygggdrasil]

Yes, as long as the light is of the correct wavelength, it does not matter if it comes from the sun, a light bulb, or a laser. In fact, by using ultrafast lasers, researches can perform very sophisticated experiments to probe what happens during all of the electron transfer reactions during photosynthesis (for example, see http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/PBD-quantum-secrets.html) :

Fleming and his research group have developed a technique called two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy that enables them to follow the flow of light-induced excitation energy through molecular complexes with femtosecond temporal resolution. The technique involves sequentially flashing a sample with femtosecond pulses of light from three laser beams. A fourth beam is used as a local oscillator to amplify and detect the resulting spectroscopic signals as the excitation energy from the laser lights is transferred from one molecule to the next. (The excitation energy changes the way each molecule absorbs and emits light.)