Statistical Mechanics and Phase Transitions

马里兰大学的Michael E. Fisher教授在理论与计算化学和材料理论项目的支持下进行统计力学和相变的研究。该项目涉及发展和应用基本的统计机械技术来解决与生物化学和生物物理学相关的问题。确定了特定的生物物理行为，并推测和测试了控制这些行为的一般原则。正在研究的具体问题包括运动蛋白的理论，如肌凝蛋白V和运动蛋白。虽然肌凝蛋白V和运动蛋白都是进程马达，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，正在寻求对这两种运动蛋白所观察到的差异的化学-机械解释。此外，对离子流体关键性质的理解也在不断完善中。研究生和博士后将接受统计力学领域的传统训练，并学习如何将这些技术应用于分子马达的新兴领域。目前，对生物学上重要的大分子运动的化学-机械理解是缺乏的，而且该领域几乎缺乏实验数据。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，并进一步使模型的改进和重新定义。这样的研究可能会形成一个理解肌肉动作的框架，这可能会导致成功的策略来修改体内的肌肉过程。这些研究也将影响纳米机械器件的设计和应用。第二个感兴趣的领域是对离子流体的理解。离子流体性质的阐明将加速它们作为化学处理介质的应用，如化学反应和化学分离。

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.