High Time Resolution Multifrequency EPR of Radical Pair Intermediates in Photosynthetic Reaction Centers: Structure Determination on a Nanosecond Time Scale

Abstract

Abstract The primary steps of photosynthesis proceed via light-induced radical pairs as short-lived intermediates. In this paper we discuss novel coherence phenomena which can be observed for these species. It is demonstrated that the analysis of quantum beat oscillations in combination with multifrequency EPR and a magnetically oriented sample represents a powerful structural tool. We expect that this is of general interest, since the detailed structure of radical pair intermediates can be determined on a nanosecond time scale.