Molecular Motors and (Nano) Mechanical Machines: Stochastics, Nonlinearity and Complexity (Molecular Motors and)
Venue: CISMM, Udine, Italy
Event Date/Time: Jul 13, 2009 | End Date/Time: Jul 17, 2009 |
Registration Date: Jul 10, 2009 | |
Early Registration Date: Jun 13, 2009 |
Description
The processes by which such bio-motors utilize the chemical energy to perform mechanical work are based on either power stroke generation and/or a Brownian ratchet mechanism (rectification of thermal fluctuations from a surrounding heat bath and taking advantage of large and rare fluctuations). Indeed, as a system’s dimensions decrease, fluctuations away from equilibrium begin to dominate its behavior. The contribution of fluctuations and the equation of state tend to depend on the type of statistical ensemble, a new recently started line of thought in statistical mechanics.
Bio-molecular motors are finding applications as nano-machines, e.g. used as molecule-sized robots that work in molecular factories where small, but intricate structures are made on tiny assembly lines. Bio-molecular motors could form the basis of bottom-up approaches for constructing, active structuring and maintenance at the nano-meter scale. Bottom-up nano-mechanics, nano-chemistry and nano-technology deal with how to control the formation and two-and three-dimensional assembly of molecular scale building blocks into well defined meso- and macroscopic structures.
Capillary action is very prominent in nano-channels, nano-drops, etc, due to the large surface to volume ratio. Mesoscopic surface (DLVO) forces permit to properly describe three-phase contact angle, surfaces with variable wetting characteristics, etc.