Our research is focused on experimental and theoretical investigations of molecular processes of photosynthesis, of spectral properties of photosynthetic chromoproteins, and of stability of integral membrane proteins under high hydrostatic pressure. A long-term goal of these studies is a deeper understanding of the basic physical mechanisms of biomolecular functioning as well as of biocomplexity.
Polarons in light harvesting: Lessons from natural nanoworld
Unraveling the hidden nature of photosynthetic antenna excitations
Fine-tuning of the antenna spectra
Selective spectroscopy of biomolecules
Protein mechanics and stability
Barochromic (pressure-dependent) studies of electronic excited states
Neutron Scattering in Photosynthesis Research
Various advanced laser spectroscopic techniques (ps-ns-range time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy from near IR to UV, high-resolution hole-burning and fluorescence line-narrowing spectroscopy, high-pressure spectroscopy), neutron scattering and spectroscopy, and computational physical modeling are used to study biophysical systems and processes. Experiments with neutrons are performed on instruments at different European user facilities, which are available based on a peer-reviewed proposal system.
PRG664, New Insights into Photosynthetic Excitations Enabled by High-pressure Perturbation Spectroscopy, 1.01.2020−31.12.2024, Arvi Freiberg
PRG539, Functionally relevant protein structure and dynamics studied by neutron scattering,1.01.2019−31.12.2023, Jörg Pieper
PSG264, Energy transfer in the photosynthetic unit of green sulphur bacterium, 1.01.2019−31.12.2022, Juha Matti Linnanto
SLTKT16432T, Estonian participation in designing, construction and application of the ESS, 1.09.2015−31.08.2022, Enn Lust