Crossing disciplines - A view on two-dimensional optical spectroscopy

Recent interest in the role of quantum mechanics in the primary events of photosynthetic energy transfer has led to a convergence of nonlinear optical spectroscopy, condensed matter and quantum physics on the topic of energy-transfer dynamics in pigment-protein complexes. The convergence of these communities has unveiled a mismatch between the background and terminology of the respective fields. To make connections, a pedagogical guide to understanding the basics of two-dimensional spectra is provided, aimed at researchers with a background in quantum mechanics and condensed matter.