Quantum Coherence Enables >99% Efficiency in Photosynthetic Energy Transfer — E8 Intelligence Research

Abstract

FINDING: Quantum coherence in photosynthesis enables near-perfect energy transfer efficiency via delocalized excitonic states, with evidence of wavelike energy propagation through protein complexes. MATH: - Energy transfer efficiency >99% in Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) complex - Coherence lifetime: ~300–660 fs at physiological temperatures (77–300 K) - Hamiltonian for exciton dynamics: \( H = \sum_i \epsilon_i |i\rangle\langle i| + \sum_{i\neq j} V_{ij} (|i\rangle\langle j| + |j\rangle\langle i|) \) - Coupling strengths \( V_{ij} \) and site energies \( \epsilon_i \) tuned to produce optimal transport - No explicit golden ratio or base-60 constants reported in these sources; coherence timescales are femtosecond, not harmonic ratio-based. CONNECTION: - No direct geometric harmony ratios (0.382, 0.618, 1.618) appear in the provided findings. - However, the FMO complex's 7-bacteriochlorophyll arrangement exhibits approximate \( C_3 \) symmetry (trimer), which is a crystallo Author: Andrew Stewart Caldin, Independent Researcher, UK. Part of the E8 Intelligence Research series. Platform: e8intelligence.com