Photosynthesis on the Ultrafast Time Scale within the Confinements of Quantum Nanostructured Photosystems

Abstract

Fundamental information on the behavior of excited chlorophyll molecules packed within the confinements of nanosized photosystems I and II, following absorption of light, is presented. Using a 100 femtosecond laser with nanojoule (nJ) pulse energy and a one picosecond streak camera, we observed the light emitted from the nanostructured photosystems without oscillations or hops. The fluorescent exponential decay profiles and high efficiency within the nanostructure suggest that light coherently drains out as a unit. This implies that quantumness is linked to quantum confinement on the nano scale.