  We give a theoretical treatment of the interaction of electronic excitations
(excitons) in biomolecules and quantum dots with the surrounding polar solvent.
Significant quantum decoherence occurs due to the interaction of the electric
dipole moment of the solute with the fluctuating electric dipole moments of the
individual molecules in the solvent. We introduce spin boson models which could
be used to describe the effects of decoherence on the quantum dynamics of
biomolecules which undergo light-induced conformational change and on
biomolecules or quantum dots which are coupled by Forster resonant energy
transfer.
