Laser Studies of Primary Processes in Photosynthesis

Abstract

In recent years the availability of picosecond lasers and of intense lasers of longer pulse duration has provided a new impetus to the study of primary processes in photosynthesis. A number of photophysical phenomena, which can be usually neglected when more conventional light sources are utilized for excitation, must be considered when intense laser beams are incident on a photosynthetic system. We will briefly discuss some of the most important non linear effects which may occur under these conditions of excitation.