An efficient quantum jump method for coherent energy transfer dynamics in photosynthetic systems under the influence of laser fields

Abstract

We present a non-Markovian quantum jump (NMQJ) approach for simulating coherent energy transfer dynamics in molecular systems in the presence of laser fields. By combining a coherent modified Redfield theory (CMRT) and a NMQJ method, this new approach inherits the broad-range validity from the CMRT and highly efficient propagation from the NMQJ. To implement NMQJ propagation of CMRT, we show that the CMRT master equation can be cast into a generalized Lindblad form. Moreover, we extend the NMQJ approach to treat time-dependent Hamiltonian, enabling the description of excitonic systems under coherent laser fields. As a benchmark of the validity of this new method, we show that the CMRT–NMQJ method accurately describes the energy transfer dynamics in a prototypical photosynthetic complex. Finally, we apply this new approach to simulate the quantum dynamics of a dimer system coherently excited to coupled single-excitation states under the influence of laser fields, which allows us to investigate the interplay between the photoexcitation process and ultrafast energy transfer dynamics in the system. We demonstrate that laser-field parameters significantly affect coherence dynamics of photoexcitations in excitonic systems, which indicates that the photoexcitation process must be explicitly considered in order to properly describe photon-induced dynamics in photosynthetic systems. This work should provide a valuable tool for efficient simulations of coherent control of energy flow in photosynthetic systems and artificial optoelectronic materials.

Keywords

• photosynthetic light harvesting
• quantum jump
• quantum master equation
• excitation energy transfer
• 03.65.Yz
• 42.50.Lc