Early work
Several lines of research related to ac-biology have been recurring since the late 1980s. John Ross coined the term ac-chemistry from Stanford University, USA, for chemical reactors with oscillating inputs. Later, this was also applied by the same group to biological systems, including photosynthesis. In parallel, approaches to systems identification of photosynthesis in the frequency domain were also explored by Lam et al. in Troy, USA.
For more, please take a look at the Literature.
Foundations
The forced oscillations of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria have been systematically studied by Nedbal et al., first in the early 2000s in Czechia and later in Germany and France. This research led to the discovery of non-linear upper harmonic modulation of the responses to harmonically modulated light. Recently, the linear time-invariant limit has been explored for low-amplitude light oscillations.
For more, please see the Literature.
DREAM dynamics
Another strong impulse to the field came with the DREAM project that brought together in 2022 teams from France, Czechia, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy. The DREAM project also supported the meeting of a broad international community of biologists, physicists, and engineers in the workshop and summer school in August 2025 in Český Krumlov, Czechia.
This website’s primary ambition is to support the collaboration and communication of the community in the years to come.