Quantum-limited biochemical magnetometers designed using the Fisher information and quantum reaction control

Radical-ion pairs and their reactions have triggered the study of quantum effects in biological systems. This is because they exhibit a number of effects best understood within quantum information science, and at the same time are central in understanding the avian magnetic compass and the spin transport dynamics in photosynthetic reaction centers. Here we address radical-pair reactions from the perspective of quantum metrology. Since the coherent spin motion of radical-pairs is effected by an external magnetic field, these spin-dependent reactions essentially realize a biochemical magnetometer. Using the quantum Fisher information, we find the fundamental quantum limits to the magnetic sensitivity of radical-pair magnetometers. We then explore how well the usual measurement scheme considered in radical-pair reactions, the measurement of reaction yields, approaches the fundamental limits. In doing so, we find the optimal hyperfine interaction Hamiltonian that leads to the best magnetic sensitivity as obtained from reaction yields. This is still an order of magnitude smaller than the absolute quantum limit. Finally, we demonstrate that with a realistic quantum reaction control reminding of Ramsey interferometry, here presented as a quantum circuit involving the spin-exchange interaction and a recently proposed molecular switch, we can approach the fundamental quantum limit within a factor of 2. This work opens the application of well-advanced quantum metrology methods to biological systems.

K. M. Vitalis, I. K. Kominis · 2016