Theory of multichromophoric coherent resonance energy transfer: A polaronic quantum master equation approach

The approach of second order time local quantum master equation in the polaron picture, which has been employed for a theory of coherent resonance energy transfer, is extended for general multichromophore systems. Explicit expressions for all the kernel and inhomogeneous terms are derived, which can be calculated by any standard numerical procedure. The theory is then applied to a model of donor-bridge-acceptor system moderately coupled to bosonic bath. The results are compared with those based on the theory of Förster's resonance energy transfer. It is shown that coherently coupled multichromophores can speed up the transfer of energy substantially and in a way insensitive to the disorder.