Coherent dynamics during the primary charge separation in photosynthetic reaction centers

After excitation of the reaction center of photosynthetic bacteria light energy is converted into potential energy with high efficiency. Within a few picoseconds a charge separation over a distance of 18 Angstrom takes place without sizeable recombination losses.Since the molecular structure of the reaction center of Rps. Viridis has been resolved (25th anniversary of the Nobel prize to H. Michel, J. Deisenhofer and R. Huber) it remains a challenge to interpret sub picosecond experiments, which provide detailed information on the dynamics. The talk will concentrate on coherence effects observed on native and selectively modified reaction centers. The interpretation provides insights into the structurfunction relation, which makes the photosynthetic charge separation so efficient.