On Monday, September 22, 2025, Ilia A. Solov’yov gave a seminar at Princeton University titled “Quantum Effects in Radical Pair Dynamics and Biological Magnetoreception.” He outlined how spin-correlated radical pairs in cryptochrome could underpin animals’ magnetic sensing, connecting theory and simulation with emerging experiments.
Drawing on recent theoretical and computational advances, Prof. Solov’yov discussed how protein structure, cofactors, and magnetic interactions shape spin dynamics and magnetic sensitivity in cryptochrome. He highlighted the role of thermal motions in modulating coherence, and surveyed modeling frameworks—including Redfield theory and stochastic Schrödinger dynamics—to capture environmental noise and motion in biological systems. The seminar connected these ideas to broader questions in biological spin dynamics and quantum effects in chemistry.
- When: Mon, Sep 22, 2025, 4:30 pm (EDT)
- Where: Taylor Auditorium, Frick Chemistry Lab B02
- Host: Sharon Hammes-Schiffer
- More info: Event page