Inelastic electron transfer in olfaction: multiphonons processes

Abstract

Inelastic electron transfer being regarded as one of the potential mechanisms to explain the odorant recognition in the atomic-scale processes is still a matter of intense debate. Here, we propose multiphonon processes of electrons transfer using the Markvart model and calculate their lifetimes with values of key parameters widely adopted in olfactory systems. We find that these multiphonon processes are as quickly as the single phonon process, which suggest that contributions from different phonon modes of odorant molecule for electrons transfer in olfaction should be included. Meanwhile, temperature dependence of electron transfer could be analyzed effectively based on the reorganization energy is expanded into the linewidth of multiphonon processes. Our theoretical results not only enrich the knowledge of the mechanism of the olfaction recognition, but also provide insights for quantum processes in the biological system.