Using coherence to enhance function in chemical and biophysical systems

Coherence phenomena arise from interference, or the addition, of wave-like amplitudes with defined phase. While coherence has been shown to yield transformative new ways for improving function, advances have been limited to pristine matter, as quantum coherence is considered fragile. Recent evidence of coherence in chemical and biological systems, however, suggests that the phenomena are robust and can survive in the face of disorder and noise. Here we survey the state of recent discoveries, present viewpoints that suggest coherence can be used in complex chemical systems, and discuss the role of function as a design element in realizing coherence.
Chemistry and Chemical Biology