Statistical Mechanics and Phase Transitions

统计力学和相变

• 批准号: 0301101
• 负责人: Michael Fisher
• 金额: $ 57.6万
• 依托单位: University of Maryland, College Park
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2003
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2003-06-01 至 2007-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0301101&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Statistical; Mechanics; Phase; Transitions

Professor Michael E. Fisher, of the University of Maryland, is supported by the Theoretical and Computational Chemistry and Materials Theory Programs to perform research on statistical mechanics and phase transitions. The project deals with developing and applying basic statistical mechanical techniques to problems relevant to biochemistry and biophysics. Specific biophysical behaviors are identified and general principles governing these behaviors are conjectured and tested. The specific problem being investigated includes the theory of motor proteins such as myosin V and kinesin. Although myosin V and kinesin are both processive motors, they exhibit qualitatively different load-versus-velocity characteristics and different stall forces. A chemo-mechanical explanation of the differences observed in these two motor proteins is being sought in this work. In addition, refinement of the understanding of critical properties of ionic fluids is in progress. Graduate and postdoctoral students will receive traditional training in the field of statistical mechanics and learn how to apply these techniques to the nascent field of molecular motors.A chemo-mechanical understanding of motion of biologically important macromolecules is currently lacking and the field is nearly devoid of experimental data. The preliminary models studied here will yield precise predictions, which will stimulate new experimental measurement and further enable refinement and redefinition of the models. Such studies may form a framework for the understanding of muscle action, which could lead to successful strategies for modification of muscular processes in vivo. These studies will also impact the design and application of nanomechanical devices. The second area of interest is in the understanding of ionic fluids. Elucidation of the properties of ionic fluids will speed their adoption as a medium for chemical processing applications such as chemical reactions and chemical separations.

马里兰大学的Michael E.Fisher教授得到了理论化学和计算化学及材料理论项目的支持，从事统计力学和相变方面的研究。该项目涉及开发和应用基本统计机械技术来解决与生物化学和生物物理有关的问题。确定了特定的生物物理行为，并推测和测试了管理这些行为的一般原理。正在研究的具体问题包括肌球蛋白V和动蛋白等马达蛋白的理论。虽然肌球蛋白V和动蛋白都是前进马达，但它们表现出不同的负载-速度特性和不同的失速力。在这项工作中，人们正在寻求对这两种发动机蛋白中观察到的差异的化学机械解释。此外，对离子液体临界性质的理解正在改进中。研究生和博士后将接受统计力学领域的传统培训，并学习如何将这些技术应用于新生的分子马达领域。目前缺乏对具有生物重要性的大分子运动的化学机械理解，该领域几乎没有实验数据。这里研究的初步模型将产生精确的预测，这将刺激新的实验测量，并进一步使模型得到改进和重新定义。这样的研究可能会形成一个了解肌肉行为的框架，这可能会导致在活体中成功地改变肌肉过程的策略。这些研究还将影响纳米机械设备的设计和应用。第二个感兴趣的领域是对离子液体的理解。阐明离子液体的性质将加速将其用作化学反应和化学分离等化学处理应用的介质。