Magnetic
field effects (MFEs) allow detailed insight into spin
conversion processes of radical pairs that are formed, for example,
in all charge separation processes, and are supposed to play the key
role in avian navigation. In this work, the MFE of charge recombination
in the charge-separated state of a rigid donor–bridge–acceptor
dyad was analyzed by a classical and a quantum theoretical model and
represents a paradigm case of understanding spin chemistry with unprecedented
detail. The MFE is represented by magnetic field-affected reaction
yield (MARY) spectra that exhibit a sharp resonance, resulting from
S/T level crossing as the Zeeman splitting equals twice the exchange
interaction. Although in the classical kinetic model, the spin conversion
processes between the four singlet and triplet substates are shown
for the first time to obey an identical generalized energy dependence,
quantum theory proves that the MARY resonance line is composed of
relaxation, coherent hyperfine induced spin mixing, and S/T dephasing
contributions.