抄録
Carotenoids in photosynthesis play threefold functions of light-harvesting, excess energy-dissipation, and structural stabilization of pigment-protein complexes. In this review, after introducing basic idea for the molecular architecture and functions of purple bacterial photosystem, photophysics of carotenoids is extensively explained. Special attention is paid for the current understanding of the ultrafast relaxation processes of carotenoids following photoexcitation, which has been clarified by time-resolved laser spectroscopy with unprecedented temporal resolution of sub-20 femtosecond. Another attention is paid for the vibrational relaxation in the electronic excited-state, which has been demonstrated by femtosecond time-resolved stimulated Raman spectroscopy. Finally, topics concerning the coherent control of the light-harvesting system are introduced as a future perspective in this particular research field.
