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  "slug": "viscoelastic-gating-of-nuclear-spin-coherence-in-microtubules-a-quantitative-ass",
  "title": "Viscoelastic Gating of Nuclear Spin Coherence in Microtubules: A Quantitative Assessment",
  "authors": [
    "Rowan Brad Quni-Gudzinas"
  ],
  "abstract": "Biological cells operate at 310 K, a temperature at which thermal fluctuations are expected to destroy quantum coherence on sub‑picosecond scales. The viscoelastic gating hypothesis proposes that the frequency‑dependent mechanical response of the cytoskeleton attenuates environmental coupling, potentially extending nuclear‑spin coherence to biologically relevant durations. We address the quantitative gap between the thermal decoherence limit and the putative viscoelastic suppression. Using the high‑temperature limit of Bloch‑Redfield theory, we derive an analytic expression for the thermal decoherence rate Γ_th=k_mathrm BT/ℏ and compute a baseline coherence time T₂^th=2.46×10^-14 s. Introducing a dimensionless viscoelastic quality factor Q_ve that scales the effective spin‑bath coupling, we obtain a gated decoherence rate Γ_ve=Γ_th/Q_ve and a corresponding coherence time T₂^ve=Q_ve T₂^th. Achieving a microsecond‑scale T₂ would require Q_ve≈4×10⁷, far exceeding experimentally measured loss factors for intracellular filaments. Consequently, any observation of nuclear‑spin coherence beyond 10^-12 s in microtubules would falsify the viscoelastic gating hypothesis as currently formulated. We propose a minimal high‑field NMR experiment to test this prediction and discuss the engineering constraints that bound the first empirical attempts.",
  "abstract_markdown": "Biological cells operate at 310 K, a temperature at which thermal fluctuations are expected to destroy quantum coherence on sub‑picosecond scales. The viscoelastic gating hypothesis proposes that the frequency‑dependent mechanical response of the cytoskeleton attenuates environmental coupling, potentially extending nuclear‑spin coherence to biologically relevant durations. We address the quantitative gap between the thermal decoherence limit and the putative viscoelastic suppression. Using the high‑temperature limit of Bloch‑Redfield theory, we derive an analytic expression for the thermal decoherence rate $\\Gamma_{\\mathrm{th}}=k_{\\mathrm B}T/\\hbar$ and compute a baseline coherence time $T_{2}^{\\mathrm{th}}=2.46\\times10^{-14}\\,\\mathrm{s}$. Introducing a dimensionless viscoelastic quality factor $Q_{\\mathrm{ve}}$ that scales the effective spin‑bath coupling, we obtain a gated decoherence rate $\\Gamma_{\\mathrm{ve}}=\\Gamma_{\\mathrm{th}}/Q_{\\mathrm{ve}}$ and a corresponding coherence time $T_{2}^{\\mathrm{ve}}=Q_{\\mathrm{ve}}\\,T_{2}^{\\mathrm{th}}$. Achieving a microsecond‑scale $T_{2}$ would require $Q_{\\mathrm{ve}}\\approx4\\times10^{7}$, far exceeding experimentally measured loss factors for intracellular filaments. Consequently, any observation of nuclear‑spin coherence beyond $10^{-12}\\,\\mathrm{s}$ in microtubules would falsify the viscoelastic gating hypothesis as currently formulated. We propose a minimal high‑field NMR experiment to test this prediction and discuss the engineering constraints that bound the first empirical attempts.",
  "date": "2026-10-19",
  "first_published": "2026-10-19",
  "last_revised": "2026-10-19T00:00:00Z",
  "modified": "2026-10-19T00:00:00Z",
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  "url": "https://papers.qnfo.org/papers/viscoelastic-gating-of-nuclear-spin-coherence-in-microtubules-a-quantitative-ass",
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        "name": "Rowan Brad Quni-Gudzinas",
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    "titles": [
      {
        "title": "Viscoelastic Gating of Nuclear Spin Coherence in Microtubules: A Quantitative Assessment"
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    "publicationYear": "2026",
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        "description": "Biological cells operate at 310 K, a temperature at which thermal fluctuations are expected to destroy quantum coherence on sub‑picosecond scales. The viscoelastic gating hypothesis proposes that the frequency‑dependent mechanical response of the cytoskeleton attenuates environmental coupling, potentially extending nuclear‑spin coherence to biologically relevant durations. We address the quantitative gap between the thermal decoherence limit and the putative viscoelastic suppression. Using the high‑temperature limit of Bloch‑Redfield theory, we derive an analytic expression for the thermal decoherence rate Γ_th=k_mathrm BT/ℏ and compute a baseline coherence time T₂^th=2.46×10^-14 s. Introducing a dimensionless viscoelastic quality factor Q_ve that scales the effective spin‑bath coupling, we obtain a gated decoherence rate Γ_ve=Γ_th/Q_ve and a corresponding coherence time T₂^ve=Q_ve T₂^th. Achieving a microsecond‑scale T₂ would require Q_ve≈4×10⁷, far exceeding experimentally measured loss factors for intracellular filaments. Consequently, any observation of nuclear‑spin coherence beyond 10^-12 s in microtubules would falsify the viscoelastic gating hypothesis as currently formulated. We propose a minimal high‑field NMR experiment to test this prediction and discuss the engineering constraints that bound the first empirical attempts.",
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