Hans Briegel

Title

Quantum Physics, Computation, and Biology

Abstract

Ideas of quantum computation and information have changed our perspective on the ultimate scope and limits of information processing, and small-scale quantum computers and simulators have already been realized in modern quantum optics laboratories. The realization of these systems requires extremely precise control of matter on the atomic scale and a nearly perfect isolation from the environment. Biological systems, in contrast, are very noisy, complex, and in continuous interaction with their environment. The existence and relevance of genuine quantum effects such as quantum interference and entanglement in biology seems therefore rather unlikely. Nevertheless, recent experimental work has, for example, reported long-lived quantum coherence in photosynthetic complexes and there is a growing interest in the question to what extent quantum mechanics may play a role in living systems. In this talk, I will discuss some of the recent work in this area, exploring possible connections between quantum information and biology.