Quantum mechanics deals with fundamental description of physical phenomena such as light, particles, gravitational fields, atoms or solid state matter. Interestingly, quantum mechanical approach can be used for nanoscopic description of atomistic constituents in living systems, providing insights into quantized light absorption, formation of excited electronic states, spins and transfer of energy to electrons and protons. Those fundamental processes are bases for biochemical reactions or interactions of bimolecular systems with external electromagnetic fields and providing 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 interactions of such basic biological and chemical constituents with physical quantities based on quantum mechanical principles. 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, revealing the quantum interactions of individual molecules in the real time. 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.

Quantum mechanics deals with fundamental description of physical phenomena such as light, particles, gravitational fields, atoms or solid state matter. Interestingly, quantum mechanical approach can be used for nanoscopic description of atomistic constituents in living systems, providing insights into quantized light absorption, formation of excited electronic states, spins and transfer of energy to electrons and protons. Those fundamental processes are bases for biochemical reactions or interactions of bimolecular systems with external electromagnetic fields and providing 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 interactions of such basic biological and chemical constituents with physical quantities based on quantum mechanical principles. 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, revealing the quantum interactions of individual molecules in the real time. 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.