Statistical Mechanics for Soft Matter Systems

Teacher: Cristian Micheletti

CFU: 5.00

Content:

  • Diffusive processes (one-dimensional RW, Perrin expt, Einstein diffusion relation)
  • Langevin equation (underdamped and overdamped)
  • Stochastic harmonic oscillator, power spectrum
  • Harmonic oscillator coupled to heat bath
  • Fokker-Planck equation
  • Out-of-equilibrium systems: stochastic motion in a tilted washboard potential (giant acceleration of diffusion)
  • Entropic forces:
    • giant acceleration of dynamics in systems with spatially modulated confinement
    • depletion effect in crowded systems
  • Mean field solution of charged particles in ionic solutions (Debye Hueckel theory, Debye screening length)
  • Mean field solution of charged rods (counterion condensation)
  • RNA structure prediction, calculation of partition function of 1D systems with nested long-range interactions
  • Partition function of (quasi)-1D systems with short-ranged interactions, transfer matrix techniques

The successful and proficient attendance of the course will be evaluated through an oral exam.