arXiv subjects

K. Lindenberg

Publications and source records attributed to K. Lindenberg.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv1999

Enhanced Pulse Propagation in Non-Linear Arrays of Oscillators

The propagation of a pulse in a nonlinear array of oscillators is influenced by the nature of the array and by its coupling to a thermal environment. For example, in some arrays a pulse can be speeded up while in others a pulse can be slowed down by raising the temperature. We begin by showing that an energy pulse (1D) or energy front (2D) travels more rapidly and remains more localized over greater distances in an isolated array (microcanonical) of hard springs than in a harmonic array or in a soft-springed array. Increasing the pulse amplitude causes it to speed up in a hard chain, leaves the pulse speed unchanged in a harmonic system, and slows down the pulse in a soft chain. Connection of each site to a thermal environment (canonical) affects these results very differently in each type of array. In a hard chain the dissipative forces slow down the pulse while raising the temperature speeds it up. In a soft chain the opposite occurs: the dissipative forces actually speed up the pulse while raising the temperature slows it down. In a harmonic chain neither dissipation nor temperature changes affect the pulse speed. These and other results are explained on the basis of the frequency vs energy relations in the various arrays.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

One-Dimensional Arrays of Oscillators: Energy Localization in Thermal Equilibrium

All systems in thermal equilibrium exhibit a spatially variable energy landscape due to thermal fluctuations. Thus at any instant there is naturally a thermodynamically driven localization of energy in parts of the system relative to other parts of the system. The specific characteristics of the spatial landscape such as, for example, the energy variance, depend on the thermodynamic properties of the system and vary from one system to another. The temporal persistence of a given energy landscape, that is, the way in which energy fluctuations (high or low) decay toward the thermal mean, depends on the dynamical features of the system. We discuss the spatial and temporal characteristics of spontaneous energy localization in 1D anharmonic chains in thermal equilibrium.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Motor Proteins Have Highly Correlated Brownian Engines

Two headed motor proteins, such as kinesin and dynein, hidrolyze environmental ATP in order to propel unidirectionally along cytoskeletal filaments such as microtubules. In the case of kinesin, protein heads bind primarily on the alpha tubulin site of asymmetric alpha-beta 8nm-long tubulin dimers that constitute the microtubular protofilaments. Kinesin dimers overcome local binding forces up to 5pN and are known to move on protofilaments with ATP concentration-dependent speeds while hydrolizing on average one ATP molecule per 8nm step. The salient features of protein trajectories are the distinct abrupt usually 8nm-long steps from one tubulin dimer to the next interlaced with long quiescent binding periods at a tubulin site. Discrete walks of this type are characterized by substantially reduced variances compared to pure biased random walks, and as a result rule out flashing-type ratchet models as possible mechanisms for motor movement. On the other hand, simple additive correlated brownian ratchets that present exactly these discrete trajectory patterns with reduced variances are compatible with the general features of protein motion. In the simplest such model the protein is simplified to a single particle moving in a periodic non-symmetric tubulin-derived potential and the environmental and ATP interaction is included in a correlated additive noise term. For this model we show that the resulting protein walk has features resembling experimental data. Furthermore, in more realistic mechanical models of two masses connected by a spring we find qualitative agreement with recent experimental facts related to motion of protein chimaeras formed through kinesin motor domains with non-claret disjunctional (ncd) neck regions.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Nonclassical Kinetics in Constrained Geometries: Initial Distribution Effects

We present a detailed study of the effects of the initial distribution on the kinetic evolution of the irreversible reaction A+B -> 0 in one dimension. Our analytic as well as numerical work is based on a reaction-diffusion model of this reaction. We focus on the role of initial density fluctuations in the creation of the macroscopic patterns that lead to the well-known kinetic anomalies in this system. In particular, we discuss the role of the long wavelength components of the initial fluctuations in determining the long-time behavior of the system. We note that the frequently studied random initial distribution is but one of a variety of possible distributions leading to interesting anomalous behavior. Our discussion includes an initial distribution with correlated A-B pairs and one in which the initial distribution forms a fractal pattern. The former is an example of a distribution whose long wavelength components are suppressed, while the latter exemplifies one whose long wavelength components are enhanced, relative to those of the random distribution.

physics.chem-ph↗