The equivalence of ensembles hold in the thermodynamic limit for many statistical mechanics systems. However, this principle breaks down for small systems e.g. single-molecules. In this context, recent results of coarse-grained Langevin dynamics study predict the transition from the inequivalence to the equivalence regime for single-molecule stretching ensembles i.e. two different force-extension measurements. Similarly, coarse-grained models for force measurements performed on single-molecules in nanoscale pore with optical tweezers give rise to an algorithmic problem of computing electrostatic forces fast, in the case of arbitrarily shaped inhomogeneous dielectrics. The Induced Charge Computation is introduced and applied to a model problem, stiff DNA translocation through nanoscale pore. In this talk, these closely related problems will be discussed.


Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 17:00. Seminar Room