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Supersonic vibron solitons and their possible existence in polypeptides
1Department of Information Systems, Faculty of Information Science, Osaka Institute of Technology, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-0171 Japan.
Journal of Biological Physics
|January 25, 2013
Summary
Supersonic vibron solitons, arising from soft cubic nonlinearity, exhibit greater binding energy and unique velocities. These novel solitons are more likely to be realized in alpha-helical proteins than existing Davydov or vibron solitons.
Area of Science:
- Condensed matter physics
- Biophysics
- Nonlinear dynamics
Background:
- Davydov solitons and conventional vibron solitons are key concepts in understanding energy transport in biological systems.
- Quasi-one-dimensional lattices exhibit complex nonlinear phenomena.
- Soft cubic nonlinearity plays a role in soliton formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation and properties of novel supersonic vibron solitons.
- To compare these new solitons with existing Davydov and conventional vibron solitons.
- To assess the potential realization of these solitons in biological systems, specifically alpha-helical proteins.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical modeling of nonlinear interactions between vibrons and lattice solitons.
- Analysis of a model Hamiltonian for polypeptides.
- Examination of parameters influencing soliton properties.
Main Results:
- Nonlinear interactions yield supersonic vibron solitons with enhanced binding energy.
- The propagation velocity of these supersonic solitons is uniquely determined.
- These supersonic vibron solitons possess properties making them more likely to be realized in alpha-helical proteins compared to Davydov or conventional vibron solitons.
Conclusions:
- Supersonic vibron solitons represent a new class of solitons with significant potential in biophysics.
- The unique characteristics of these solitons offer new avenues for understanding energy transport mechanisms.
- Alpha-helical proteins provide a promising system for the experimental observation of these novel solitons.
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