Long‐range coherence and energy storage in biological systems

TLDR

Biological systems are predicted to support a branch of longitudinal electric modes between 10¹¹ and 10¹² s⁻¹, arising from dipolar cell‑membrane properties, recurring bonds such as H‑bonds, and possible pockets of non‑localized electrons. The study explores the general consequences of this mode and proposes experiments to test them. When energy is supplied above a threshold rate, the system reaches a steady state in which a single mode is strongly excited, storing energy in an ordered, non‑thermalized form that manifests as long‑range phase correlations analogous to Bose‑gas condensation.

Abstract

Abstract Biological systems are expected to have a branch of longitudinal electric modes in a frequency region between 10 11 and 10 12 sec −1 . They are based on the dipolar properties of cell membranes; of certain bonds recurring in giant molecules (such as H bonds) and possibly on pockets of non‐localized electrons. In Section 2 it is shown quit generally that if energy is supplied above a certain mean rate to such a branch, then a steady state will be reached in which a single mode of this branch is very strongly excited. The supplied energy is thus not completely thermalized but stored in a highly ordered fashion. This order expresses itself in long‐range phase correlations; the phenomenon has considerable similarity with the low‐temperature condensation of a Bose gas. General consequences and proposals of experiments are discussed in section 3.