Redefining the baseline of photodetection in vision

There are a large number of reasons to revert to an alternate baseline. The most important is the fact that the chromophores of vision are not formed within the photoreceptor cell. There is an extensive database on how they are formed and stored within the RPE cells and subsequently transported to the Outer Segments for coating of the protein substrate known as opsin. 

There are a large number of reasons to discount the simple photon-stereomeric approach, that is endothermic, in favor of considering available modem choices based on quantum-mechanics. The field of photographic dyes provides a well-understood alternative based on resonant conjugated carbon chemistry. This approach is energy neutral (marginally exothermic). When combined with the solid state physics derived from the transistor, it offers an alternate hypothesis that is confirmable in the laboratory. 

The quantum-mechanical approach coupled with a newly discovered electrolytic semiconductor device, the Activa, provide a traceable solution to the photodetection problem and forms the basis of this Chapter as well as the overall work. 

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