Quantum mechanics is based upon quantum particle or quasi-particle description and deals with fundamental physical phenomena such as light, or fields. Consequently, if we focus on atomistic phenomena, any systems including biologic or chemical system, can be described by such way way. In addition such particles can interact with chemical and biological mattes with an example of light-matter interactions. These interactions lead to formation of excited electronic states, spin rotations, electron transfer and other. They are part of processes such as biochemical reactions or interactions of bimolecular systems with external electromagnetic fields. They also provide insight into sparkling phenomena such as biomagnetism (navigation of living species in the earth electromagnetic field) artificial photosynthesis and others.
The aim of this course is to describe such interactions for some of basic biological and chemical constituents. The course will start with description of molecular systems and their interplay with external electromagnetic fields. We will then give examples of such interactions as magnetoreception or energy transfer in photosynthesis. Further on, we will deal with measurement and imaging of biological events by a quantum way. Example of such measurements are quantum sensors for nanoscale detection, nanoscale NMR and others. These techniques provide ultimate spatial resolution at quantum limits and sensitivity exceeding by orders of magnitude classical light and magnetic resonance methods. We discuss relevant applications for medical diagnostics and biological detection. Practical laboratory classes include artificial photosynthesis or quantum NMR and Foerster Energy Transfer.