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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy as a Unique Probe for Lipid Membrane Dynamics and Membrane-Protein Interactions
Published on: May 27, 2021
Quantum mechanical scattering cross sections and permeability coefficients for ions crossing the human red cell and
S G Elkomoss1, I Bernhardt, A Pape
1ULP-UFR de Sciences Physiques, 3-5 Rue de l'Université, Strasbourg Cedex 2, France. sabry.elkomoss@laposte.net
Abstract:
Quantum mechanical calculations of elastic scattering cross sections for some permeant ions crossing the human red blood cell and resting axolemma squid axon membranes have been carried out using the three-dimensional spherically symmetric square potential well. Making the assumption that the permeability coefficient is inversely proportional to scattering cross section, we obtain the order of membrane selectivity for the ions as well as values for the permeability coefficients. Despite the relatively simple method used, good agreement between calculated permeability coefficients and data available in the literature is obtained. We suggest that elastic scattering cross section measurements for ions in various membranes would be valuable not only because they give a precise idea about the permeability ratios between ions but they also determine the form of the potential the ions are moving in.
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