A method has been proposed for coherently controlling energy transport in a reaction-center-connected donor-acceptor system, operating in a non-equilibrium steady-state (NESS) and at room temperature. This advancement suggests the possibility of manipulating energy flow using phase-controlled coherent fields, even in noisy and dissipative environments, extending the scope of quantum control techniques beyond traditionally studied transient and low-dissipation regimes.

The model considers pigments continuously interacting with incoherent radiation and a phonon bath, while being driven by phase-controlled coherent fields. Coherent excitation of the donor-acceptor pair is shown to induce interference between excitation pathways, resulting in phase-dependent modulation of the flux. This interference allows for both enhancement and suppression of energy transfer, effectively acting as an optical energy switch.

The persistence of this interference in a NESS under dissipative conditions is a key finding. Traditionally, coherent quantum control has been associated with low-dissipation conditions and transient states. Demonstrating its viability at room temperature and in noisy environments opens new avenues for designing devices that harness quantum phenomena under more realistic and accessible operating conditions, with potential applications in energy efficiency and photonics.