Experimental evidence is presented showing that excitons in circular antenna complexes from photosynthetic
bacteria are dynamically self trapped in about 200 fs by coupling to nuclear vibrations. The induced deformation
covers ∼20% of the complex circumference at low temperature. This self trapping, the first of its kind observed
in biological systems, results in a broad fluorescence spectrum and considerably improves energy resonance
between heterogeneous antenna complexes. Exciton self trapping may thus be a part of nature's strategy,
increasing the speed and efficiency of energy transfer in photosynthesis.
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