Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Photosynthetic efficiency

  • Published:
Radiation and Environmental Biophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The efficiency of photosynthesis is discussed in analogy to the solar cell. The total efficiencyη can be written as a product of factorsη i concerning different loss processes. The fraction of photon energyhv which is available for photosynthesis in the membrane, usually called the thermodynamic efficiencyη th, is calculated. An upper limit ofη th is found by means of the second law of thermodynamics. Other factors take into account losses by reflection, absorption and by various irreversible processes of the photochemical pathways.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Odum EP (1980) Grundlagen der Ökologie. Deutsch, Stuttgart

  2. Zelitch I (1971) Photosynthesis, photorespiration, and plant productivity. New York London

  3. Knox RS (1977) In: Barber J (ed) Primary processes of photosynthesis. North-Holland, Amsterdam Oxford New York, p 55

    Google Scholar 

  4. Shockley W, Queisser HJ (1961) J Appl Phys 32:510

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ross RT (1966) J Chem Phys 45:1

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ross RT, Collins JM (1980) J Appl Phys 51:4504

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ruppel W, Würfel P (1980) IEEE Trans E1 Dev ED-27(4):877

    Google Scholar 

  8. Manzerall D (1977) In: Trebst A, Arron M (Hrsg) Photosynthesis I. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, p 118

    Google Scholar 

  9. Blankenship R, Parson WW (1979) In: Barber J (ed) Photosynthesis in relation to model systems. North-Holland, Amsterdam Oxford New York, p 71

    Google Scholar 

  10. Landsberg DT, Tonge G (1980) J Appl Phys 51:R 1

    Google Scholar 

  11. Baruch P, Picard C, Swanson RM (1981) Proc 3rd European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference Palz W (ed) Reidel, Dordrecht p 927

    Google Scholar 

  12. Duysens LNM (1962) Plant Physiol 37:407

    Google Scholar 

  13. Duysens LNM (1959) In: Energy conversion by the photosynthetic apparatus, Brookhaven Symposia in Biology No 11, p 10

    Google Scholar 

  14. Haehnel W, Nairn JA, Sauer K (1981) J Lum 25:795

    Google Scholar 

  15. Haehnel W, Nairn JA, Reisberg P, Sauer K (1982) Biochem Biophys Acta 680:161

    Google Scholar 

  16. Malkin S (1977) Delayed luminescence in primary processes of photosynthesis, Vol 2, p 349

    Google Scholar 

  17. Krause H, Gerhardt V, Gebhardt W (1984) Physik in unserer Zeit 15:182

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lieth H: In: Lieth H, Whittacker RH (eds) Primary productivity of the biosphere. Ecological Studies 14. Springer Verlag, Berlin 1979

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Physik II, Universität Regensburg, Universitätsstrasse 31, D-8400, Regensburg, Germany

    W. Gebhardt

Authors
  1. W. Gebhardt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gebhardt, W. Photosynthetic efficiency. Radiat Environ Biophys 25, 275–288 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01214641

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01214641

Keywords

Search

Navigation