Speaker
Description
The radical pair mechanism is one of the most intensely discussed quantum effects in biology: Pairs of radicals form short-lived spin-correlated states, whose coherent interconversion can be altered by external magnetic fields. Although well-known in spin chemistry and avian magnetoreception, it is not clear whether this effect plays any role in processes relevant to human biology and could potentially be relevant for radiation protection. The simulation of radical pairs exposed to time-dependent magnetic fields in biologically reasonable environments is a major computational challenge. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of current theoretical models and computational tools to calculate effects of weak radiofrequency magnetic fields on radical pairs in large spin systems. Together with an assessment of the individual methods with respect to their efficiency in specific biological scenarios, we provide orientation for future computational models and ultimately aim to support hypothesis-driven research in the area of magnetic field effects in biological systems.
