Title: Resonant energy transfer under the influence of the evanescent field from the metal

Abstract

We present a quantum framework based on a density matrix of a dimer system to investigate the quantum dynamics of excitation energy transfer (EET) in the presence of the evanescent field from the metal and the phonon bath. Due to the spatial correlation of the electric field in the vicinity of the metal, the spectral density of the evanescent field is similar to that of a shared phonon bath. However, the EET dynamics under the influence of the evanescent field is an open and a new problem. Here we use a thin metallic film to investigate the effect of the evanescent field on the excitation energy transfer in a dimer system based on a density matrix approach. Our results indicate that a thin metallic film enhances the energy transfer rate at the expense of absorbing energy during the process. Since the spectral density of the evanescent field is affected by the geometry of the medium and the distance of a dimer system from the medium, our results demonstrate the possibility to tune EET based on material geometry and distances. Our model also serves as an expansion to quantum heat engine models and provides a framework to investigate the EET inmore » light harvesting molecular networks under the influence of the evanescent field.« less

Authors:

Poudel, Amrit ^[1]; Chen, Xin ^[2]; Ratner, Mark A. ^[1]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL (United States)
2. Xi'an Jiaotong Univ., Xi'an (China)

Publication Date:

Wed Jun 28 00:00:00 EDT 2017

Research Org.:

Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center (ANSER)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:

1470368

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1369326

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0001059; SC0000989

Resource Type:

Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:

Journal of Chemical Physics

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Volume: 146; Journal Issue: 24; Related Information: ANSER partners with Northwestern University (lead); Argonne National Laboratory; University of Chicago; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; Yale University; Journal ID: ISSN 0021-9606

Publisher:

American Institute of Physics (AIP)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; catalysis (homogeneous); catalysis (heterogeneous); solar (photovoltaic); solar (fuels); photosynthesis (natural and artificial); bio-inspired; hydrogen and fuel cells; electrodes - solar; defects; charge transport; spin dynamics; membrane; materials and chemistry by design; optics; synthesis (novel materials); synthesis (self-assembly)