The Role of Periodic Structures in Light Harvesting

The features of light propagation in plant leaves depend on the long-period ordering in chloroplasts and the spectral characteristics of pigments. This work demonstrates a method of determining the hidden ordered structure. Transmission spectra have been determined using transfer matrix method. A band gap was found in the visible spectral range. The effective refractive index and dispersion in the absorption spectrum area of chlorophyll were taken into account to show that the density of photon states increases, while the spectrum shifts towards the wavelength range of effective photosynthesis.

Automated summary

The propagation of light in plant leaves is influenced by the ordering in chloroplasts and spectral characteristics of pigments. This study demonstrates a method for determining the hidden ordered structure, revealing a band gap in the visible spectrum and an increase in photon states density. The spectrum shifts towards the wavelength range of effective photosynthesis due to the effective refractive index and dispersion in the chlorophyll absorption spectrum area.