Dr. Aviel Chaimovich (MPI of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam): Molecular Simulations of Aqueous Assembly

Dr. Aviel Chaimovich

Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam

Molecular Simulations of Aqueous Assembly

Povzetek / Abstract:

I investigate two routes in aqueous assembly. In a colloidal project, we resolve a paradox for hydrophobic association, clarifying that small colloids assemble via an entropic oscillatory force and that large colloids assemble via an enthalpic monotonic force; by systematically tuning an energetic parameter, we also show the natural emergence of hydrophilic association in colloids. In a polymeric project, we examine a bead-spring chain that embodies a coil-crystal transition, and via perturbation theory, we demonstrate that such a polymer characterizes the universal kinetics observed in force spectroscopy. These molecular simulations have much relevance for biological mechanisms.