Greater Boston Area Theoretical Chemistry Lecture Series

2009-2010 Speaker Schedule

Exploring Conductance Switching Properties of Molecular Scale Devices - A Computational Approach

10/28/09 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Barry Dunietz

University of Michigan




Barry Dunietz





A computational approach is used and developed to study electron transport through molecular and nano scale devices. New models and methods to study time-dependent aspects of electron conductance are implemented to study quantum interference effects affecting the conductance. We will also describe several studies on molecular scale systems where switching properties have been observed experimentally. Several recent high-profile experimental studies achieving molecular scale conductance are considered. Our studies provide both insight into the mechanisms underlying the electronic-transport switching activity and predictions useful for designing novel schemes to enhance the switching functionality.

Weak Ergodicity Breaking

12/02/09 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Eli Barkai

Bar-Ilan University




Eli Barkai

In nature the noisy signal representing a Physical observable is in many cases unpredictable, though the long time average of the signal converges in a statistical sense to the ensemble average (ergodicity). Recently, observations of dynamics of single molecules, e.g. blinking quantum dots [1], and motion of single mRNA in the cell revealed non-ergodic processes [3]. These signals are characterized by power law sojourn times, in micro states of the system (e.g. in state on and off for the dots) in such a way that the average time spent in a micro state diverges (scale free dynamics). Two basic questions addressed in my talk are (i) what theory replaced ergodic Boltzmann-Gibbs statistical mechanics for such systems [2] (ii) what are possible Physical mechanisms responsible for anomalous non Gaussian dynamics.



1. F. D. Stefani, J. P. Hoogenboom, and E. Barkai. Beyond Quantum Jumps: Blinking Nanno-scale Light Emitters. Physics Today 62(2), 34 (February 2009).



2. A. Rebenshtok, E. Barkai. Weakly non-Ergodic Statistical Physics. Journal of Statistical Physics 133, 565 (2008).



3. Y. He, S. Burov, R. Metzler, E. Barkai. Random Time-Scale Invariant Diffusion and Transport Coefficients. Physical Review Letters 101, 058101 (2008).



See viewpoint in Igor M. Sokolov, Physics 1, 8 (2008).

Title: TBD

12/09/09 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Lubos Mitas

North Carolina State University




Lubos Mitas

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

03/10/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Steven Corcelli

University of Notre Dame




StevenCorcelli

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

03/31/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Victor Batista

Yale University




Victor Batista

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

04/07/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Bin Chen

Louisiana State University




Bin Chen

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

04/14/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Nancy Makri

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign




Nancy Makri

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

05/05/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Devarajan Thirumalai

University of Maryland




Devarajan Thirumalai

Abstract: TBD

Title: TBD

04/28/10 4:00pm

MIT Building 56, Room 154

Klaus Schulten

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign




Klaus Schulten

Abstract: TBD

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