Effect of radio frequency fields on the radical pair magnetoreception model

Bao-Ming Xu, Jian Zou, Hai Li, Jun-Gang Li, and Bin Shao
Phys. Rev. E 90, 042711 – Published 13 October 2014

Abstract

Although the radical pair (RP) model is widely accepted for birds' orientation, the physical mechanism of it is still not fully understood. In this paper we consider the RP model in the total angular-momentum representation and clearly show a detailed mechanism for orientation. When only the vertical hyperfine (HF) coupling component is considered, analytical expressions of singlet yield angular profiles are obtained with and without considering the radio frequency field, and when the horizontal HF coupling components are considered, a numerical calculation of the singlet yield is given. Based on these analytical and numerical results we present a detailed account of the following issues: how the HF coupling induces the singlet-triplet conversion; why the vertical radio frequency field can disorient the birds, while the parallel one cannot; and why the birds are able to “train” to different field strengths. Finally, we consider a multinuclei RP model.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 18 May 2014
  • Revised 6 August 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.90.042711

©2014 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Bao-Ming Xu1, Jian Zou1,*, Hai Li1,2, Jun-Gang Li1, and Bin Shao1

  • 1School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
  • 2School of Information and Electronic Engineering, Shandong Institute of Business and Technology, Yantai 264000, China

  • *zoujian@bit.edu.cn

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 4 — October 2014

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review E

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×