Laser pulse control of exciton dynamics in a biological

Femtosecond laser pulse control of exciton dynamics in a biological chromophore complex is studied theoretically. The computations use the optimal control theory specified to open quantum systems and formulated in the framework of the rotating wave approximation. Based on the laser pulse induced formation of an excitonic wave packet the possibility to localize excitation energy at a certain chromophore within a photosynthetic antenna system (FMO complex of green bacteria) is investigated. Details of exciton dynamics driven by a polarization shaped pulse are discussed. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.