Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy on the light-harvesting Chl a/b protein complex of Photosystem II at room temperature and 12 K Original Research Article

The kinetics of excitation energy transfer processes within the light-harvesting Chl a/b protein complex of Photosystem II (LHC II) from spinach was investigated using femtosecond transient absorption difference spectroscopy at room temperature and 12 K. Upon excitation of Chl b with 640 nm pulses of 120 fs duration, time-resolved absorption changes were measured at different wavelengths within the Qy(0-0) transition band of Chl a. At room temperature the transient spectra showed a single negative band which is due to photobleaching and/or stimulated emission (PB/SE). The peak position of this band was found to be time independent (>-400 fs) at about 680 nm. In contrast, at 12 K the maximum of the PB/SE band shifted from 676 nm at 400 fs to about 680 nm at later times (⩾ 100 ps). The absorption difference spectra at 12 K showed a bipolarity at times ⩾ 7.7 ps, where excited state absorption and PB/SE predominate at shorter and longer wavelengths, respectively. The dynamic spectral evolution processes at 12 K could be rationalized in terms of excitation energy transfer between excitonically coupled antenna pigments in isolated LHC II complexes. Based on a global analysis of the flash induced absorption changes at 12 K several components have been obtained with lifetimes in the subpicosecond and picosecond time domain. The results of these fits are discussed with respect to the observed time dependent spectral changes.