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arXiv · 1105.1511

Sensitive Chemical Compass Assisted by Quantum Criticality

C. Y. Cai·Qing Ai·H. T. Quan·C. P. Sun
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Abstract

The radical-pair-based chemical reaction could be used by birds for the navigation via the geomagnetic direction. An inherent physical mechanism is that the quantum coherent transition from a singlet state to triplet states of the radical pair could response to the weak magnetic field and be sensitive to the direction of such a field and then results in different photopigments in the avian eyes to be sensed. Here, we propose a quantum bionic setup for the ultra-sensitive probe of a weak magnetic field based on the quantum phase transition of the environments of the two electrons in the radical pair. We prove that the yield of the chemical products via the recombination from the singlet state is determined by the Loschmidt echo of the environments with interacting nuclear spins. Thus quantum criticality of environments could enhance the sensitivity of the detection of the weak magnetic field.

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C. Y. Cai, Qing Ai, H. T. Quan, C. P. Sun. 2011-05-12. Sensitive Chemical Compass Assisted by Quantum Criticality. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreva.85.022315

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