Responsible: Prof. Frank Jülicher

Hours per week (2 +1 h)

Language: English

Topics:

• Physics of bio-molecules: Basic concepts of statistical mechanics,
  Mechanics of biopolymers, mechanics of DNA, optical tweezers and their calibration.

• Physics of fluid membranes: Differential geometry of surfaces, bending energy,
  Gaussian fluctuations of membranes, entropic repulsion, entropic
  elasticity of membranes, persistence length, physics of vesicles and
  membrane tubes.

• Stochastic dynamical processes: Random walk and
  diffusion, Langevin and Smoluchowsky equations. Correlation and
  response. Dynamic correlation and response functions of the
  harmonic oscillator, example: bead in optical trap. Fluctuation-Dissipation
  theorem. Stochastic processes in periodic potentials, Kramers rates
  over barriers. Discrete hopping models. Active processes.

• Motor proteins: two-state model for motor proteins. Physics of mechano-chemical
  energy transductions, Collective behaviors of motor molecules in integrated systems.

• Dynamic phase transitions and Spontaneous oscillations.

SCMBP