| MadSci Network: Biochemistry |
Short answer: No The photons that carry the electromagnetic force do exactly that: they carry the force beween charged particles. They are only observed by their effect on the charged particles and are known as 'virtual' particles. If a charged particle lessens the energy of its interaction with other charges, then a photon is released to carry away the excess energy. This is a 'real' photon that could carry energy to a photosynthetic pigment. There's nothing new about emitting photons in this way. Photons of wavelengths from 300 to 800 nm are visible - they *are* light. Using these photons for photosynthesis is exactly what the process is about - using light as an energy source for biochemistry. These photons transfer energy to the electrons of chlorophyll and other pigments. A second problem with your idea is that most photons are not visible, being either too energetic (short wavelength stuff like ultraviolet, X- rays and gamma rays) or not energetic enough (infra-red, microwaves, radiowaves). Infra-red photons can make molecules vibrate, microwaves can make them spin and radiowaves can make their nuclei flip alignment in magnetic fields. Very interesting, but no good for photosynthesis. High energy photons would tend to destroy the delicate bonds in biochemicals. Nice try. It shows you're thinking ;-) Ewen McLaughlin
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