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
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
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
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
03/10/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Steven Corcelli
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
03/31/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Victor Batista
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
04/07/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Bin Chen
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
04/14/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Nancy Makri
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
05/05/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Devarajan Thirumalai
Abstract: TBD
Title: TBD
04/28/10 4:00pm
MIT Building 56, Room 154
Klaus Schulten
Abstract: TBD
Past Schedules