Nuclear-magnetic control over energy carrier synthesis in living organisms
Synthesis of molecular energy carriers in living organisms is performed by enzymes, molecular “engines.” All of them work only in the presence of magnesium ions. However, if natural magnesium in enzymes is substituted by its pure isotopic form 25Mg, the generation of energy carriers will increase two to three times. This outstanding discovery of the authors of this article underlies the development of new medicines for curing hypoxia and heart failure.
Using a density matrix approach, we study the simplest systems that display both gain and feedback: clusters of 2 to 5 atoms, one of which is pumped. The other atoms supply feedback through multiple scattering of light. We show that, if the atoms are in each other's near field, the system exhibits large gain narrowing and spectral mode redistribution. The observed phenomena are more pronounced if the feedback is enhanced. Our system is to our knowledge the simplest exactly solvable microscopic system which shows the approach to laser oscillation.