Mechanism of Propagation of Electronic Excitation Energy, and Photosynthesis in Plants

Abstract

THE main objection to the concept of a ‘photosynthetic unit’ in the assimilation process of green plants has been that the light quanta absorbed primarily would not sustain the numerous transfers from one chlorophyll molecule to another¹. Recently, however, a simple mechanism has been suggested² whereby electronic excitation energy could be propagated without loss in a complex of dye molecules. Below, a more complete picture is derived from considerations on the quenching of fluorescence of dyes in solution³.