Is the Fenna-Matthews-Olson complex a quantum dot?

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SUMMARY

The Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex exhibits characteristics consistent with quantum dots, including a size within the typical range and an effective bandgap of 2-3 eV. Investigative techniques such as femto photography and polarization-dependent two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy have been employed to analyze the FMO complex. Contrary to the assumption that energy transfer occurs solely between component molecules, evidence suggests that the FMO complex itself may function as a quantum dot, with coherent electron behavior influencing energy transfer to the reaction center.

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  • Basic principles of energy transfer in photosynthetic complexes
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Christopher Rourk
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The FMO complex has a size that is within the typical size range for quantum dots, and absorbs photon energy at what appears to be an effective bandgap between 2-3 eV. While various techniques have been used to investigate the behavior of the FMO complex, such as femto photography or polarization-dependent, two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy, see www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006349508702595, the assumption implicit in these analyses appears to be that it is the component molecules of the FMO complex that are transferring energy between each other, as opposed to the FMO complex itself behaving like a quantum dot with a coherent electron attracted to a corresponding hole by Coulombic attraction. Transfer of energy from the chlorosomes to the reaction center could be explained by the coherent electron losing coherence and localizing at the reaction center.
 
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