Single chain force spectroscopy - Reading the sequence of HP protein models

We study the elastic properties of single A/B random copolymer chains, with a specific sequence and use them as theoretical model for so called HP proteins. HP proteins carry hydrophilic (P) and hydrophobic (H) monomers. We predict a rich structure in the force-extension relations which can be attributed to the information in the sequence. The variational method is used to probe local minima on the path of stretching and releasing for the chain molecules. At a given force, we find multiple configurations which are separated by energy barriers. A collapsed globular configuration consists of several domains which unravel cooperatively. Upon stretching, the unfolding path shows a stepwise pattern corresponding to the unfolding of each domain. While releasing, several cores can be created simultaneously in the middle of the chain, resulting in a different path of collapse. The long-range interactions and stiffness of the chain simplify the potential landscape given by the disorder in sequence. Received 5 March 2002 / Received in final form 16 May 2002 Published online 13 August 2002     

Development of a Simulation Model for Solid Objects Suspended in a Fluctuating Fluid

We introduce a new scheme for the future application of Real-coded Lattice Gas (RLG) to the numerical simulation of suspended solid objects in a fluctuating fluid environment. The reproduction of Brownian motion for a single solid object is verified through the Gaussian distribution of its displacements. The effectiveness of the solid–solid interaction model is also confirmed in an N-body simulation.     

Random walks with imperfect trapping in the decoupled-ring approximation

We investigate random walks on a lattice with imperfect traps. In one dimension, we perturbatively compute the survival probability by reducing the problem to a particle diffusing on a closed ring containing just one single trap. Numerical simulations reveal this solution, which is exact in the limit of perfect traps, to be remarkably robust with respect to a significant lowering of the trapping probability. We demonstrate that for randomly distributed traps, the long-time asymptotics of our result recovers the known stretched exponential decay. We also study an anisotropic three-dimensional version of our model. We discuss possible applications of some of our findings to the decay of excitons in semiconducting organic polymer materials, and emphasize the crucial influence of the spatial trap distribution on the kinetics. Received 23 July 2001 / Received in final form 14 May 2002 Published online 13 August 2002     

Simulation on the Effect of Brownian Motion on Nanoparticle Trajectories in a Pulsed Microplasma Cluster Source

We describe a simulation of the nanoparticle trajectories in a pulsed cluster beam source. Clusters, formed by condensation of atomic vapor in a helium bath, and considered here as rigid spheres having a diameter of 1.5nm, were tracked during their travel inside the source cavity, an aerodynamic lens, and a cylindrical nozzle. Steady state supersonic laminar flow of helium is considered in an axi-symmetric geometry aiming to simulate, within some limitations, the conditions under which cluster formation takes place in a pulsed microplasma cluster source. In spite of the unsteady nature of the pulsed source, the time scale characterizing particle motion in the flow field is significantly smaller than the characteristic time constant for the evolution of gas pressure in the source. For this reason, a steady simulation can shed some light on the understanding of processes governing nanoparticle motion in a pulsed vaporization source. The extent to which the Brownian diffusion can affect the particle extraction from the source is investigated. Simulations have shown that the Brownian motion perturbs the clusters from the trajectories dictated by the carrier gas and increases the rate of cluster deposition on the source internal walls. However, it does not hinder the aerodynamic focalization produced by the lens even in nano-size cluster regime. This result is qualitatively confirmed by experiment.     

Model-dependent nature of blowtorch effect on the escape and equilibration rates

We analyze the relaxation behavior of a bistable system when the background temperature profile is inhomogeneous due to the presence of a localized hot region (blowtorch) on one side of the potential barrier. Since the diffusion equation for inhomogeneous medium is model-dependent, we consider two physical models to study the kinetics of such system. Using a conventional stochastic method, we obtain the escape and equilibration rates of the system for the two physical models. For both models, we find that the hot region enhances the escape rate from the well where it is placed while it retards the escape rate from the other well. However, the value of the escape rate from the well where the hot region is placed differs for the two models while that of the escape rate from the other well is identical for both. This work, for the first time, gives a detailed report of the similarities and differences of the escape rates and, hence, exposes the common and distinct features of the two known physical models in determining the way the bistable system relaxes. Received 25 September 2001     

第二讲合成孔径声纳成像及其研究进展

文章在介绍了图像声纳的特点、合成孔径声纳（synthetic aperture sonar,SAS）产生背景和发展过程的基础上,对合成孔径声纳的原理、技术难点、成像算法等问题进行了讨论.着重分析了合成孔径声纳成像过程中高分辨率的获取方法、水声信道对成像的影响、多子阵技术及其成像算法、稳定的声纳运动平台和运动监测问题、运动补偿与自聚焦方法等.文章还给出了国内外合成孔径声纳研究的最新进展情况,进而展望了合成孔径声纳的应用前景.     

第一类永动机幻梦的破灭

介绍了13~18世纪物理学史和科技史上曾名噪一时的第一类永动机的设计方案的破灭.第一类永动机幻梦破灭的历史引起了人们的反思与启示,有力地促进了19世纪中叶能量转化和守恒定律的确立.     

Tavis-Cummings模型中原子运动时光场的非经典特性

用全量子理论研究了原子运动时双原子Tavis-Cummings模型中光场的非经典特性. 分析了原子的运动、光场的初态和谐振腔的腔模结构对光场的压缩和反聚束效应的影响. 关键词： Tavis-Cummings模型 原子运动 压缩 反聚束效应     

Probability theory and polymer physics

This study applies the theory of stochastic processes to the equilibrium statistical physics of polymers in solution. The topics treated include random copolymers and randomly branching polymers, with self-consistent mean field effects. A new and more natural way of dealing with Boltzmann weighting is discussed, which makes it possible from the beginning of a calculation to consider only the physical polymer conformations. We also show that in general the random copolymer problem can be reduced to the ordinary polymer problem, and treat the self-consistent field problem for a general branching polymer.     

Enhancedt −3/2 long-time tail for the stress-stress time correlation function

Nonequilibrium molecular dynamics is used to calculate the spectrum of shear viscosity for a Lennard-Jones fluid. The calculated zero-frequency shear viscosity agrees well with experimental argon results for the two state points considered. The low-frequency behavior of shear viscosity is dominated by an ^1/2 cusp. Analysis of the form of this cusp reveals that the stress-stress time correlation function exhibits at ^–3/2 long-time tail. It is shown that for the state points studied, the amplitude of this long-time tail is between 12 and 150 times larger than what has been predicted theoretically. If the low-frequency results are truly asymptotic, they imply that the cross and potential contributions to the Kubo-Green integrand for shear viscosity exhibit at ^–3/2 long-time tail. This result contradicts the established theory of such processes.