2013/08/31 by Nam Mai Phan, Mei Fun Cheng, Dmitri A. Bessarab +1 · 62 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques #Biology #Optics #Photon #Photoreceptor and optogenetics research #Physics #Retinal #Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies #physics.bio-ph #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.112.213601
published in Physical Review Letters 112(21) (American Physical Society) · 8 pages, 7 figures; Accepted for Physical Review Letters
arxiv created 2014/04/29 · openalex publication_date 2014/05/29 · arxiv updated 2015/06/16 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
New tools and approaches of quantum optics offer a unique opportunity to generate light pulses carrying a precise number of photons. Accurate control over the light pulses helps to improve the characterization of photo-induced processes. Here, we interface a specialized light source which provides flashes containing just one photon, with retinal rod cells of Xenopus laevis toads. We provide unambiguous proof of single photon sensitivity of rod cells without relying on the statistical modeling. We determined their quantum efficiencies without the use of any pre-calibrated detectors, and obtained the value of 29+-4.7 %. Our approach provides the path for future studies and applications of quantum properties of light in phototransduction, vision, and photosynthesis.