Disordered and Off-Equilibrium Systems Field of study: Biophysics
Programme code: W4-S2BFA21.2022

Module name: Disordered and Off-Equilibrium Systems
Module code: W4-2BF-MB-21-03
Programme code: W4-S2BFA21.2022
Semester:
  • winter semester 2024/2025
  • winter semester 2023/2024
  • winter semester 2022/2023
Language of instruction: English
Form of verification: exam
ECTS credits: 6
Description:
1. From order to disorder Non-periodical long-range positional order: quasi-crystals Disorder in long-range positional atomic systems (cellular disorder): Substitutional disorder: interstitial and substitutional impurities, vacancies; Orientational disorder: plastic crystals (e.g. fullerene) Disorder in atomic systems without long-range positional order (topological disorder): Base elements in real crystals: Dislocations and Burger’s vector, Interfacial defects. Liquid state and amorphous state: N-bodies distribution functions, particular case: pair distribution; static structure factor; Hard sphere atomic liquids: Percus-Yevick theory. Disorder in polymeric systems: Conformations of polymeric linear chain: analogy with a random walk. Chain rigidity: Kuhn’s segment. Size distribution of the linear polymeric chain. Free energy of polymeric chain, entropic elasticity. The pair distribution function of polymeric chain: self-similarity 2. From equilibrium to out of equilibrium Supercooled metastable states and glass transition in liquids: Van Hove function and its momenta; Collective and microscopic dynamics: cage effect and vibrational properties, local and structural relaxation, relaxation time distribution, diffusion, visco-elasticity; Simple models of glass transition: Free volume, Configurational entropy. Elements of non-equilibrium thermodynamics: Zero Principle: fictive temperature in glasses, fluctuation-dissipation theorem violation; Second Principle: Jarzynski’s equality and Crooks fluctuation theorem: experimental tests in nanosystems. Polymeric chain Dynamics: Short-chain: Rouse model; Long chain: entanglement effect; Edwards tube model; De Gennes reptation motion: scale arguments. Non-equilibrium states in the active matter: Molecular Motors; Bacteria, Swimmers, swarms: emergent collective motions and glass transition. 3. Experimental techniques: structure and dynamics of disordered systems Scattering from disordered systems: generalities: Scattering cross-sections, coherent and incoherent scattering; Static and dynamic structure factor, elastic and inelastic scattering; Spatial, temporal and spatio-temporal correlation function. Photon Scattering (X-rays and light): Sources of coherent radiation (synchrotron), spectrometers and detectors; Structure of disordered systems: X-ray diffraction at a wide and small angle; Dynamics in disordered systems: Brillouin and Raman scattering, inelastic X-ray scattering, photocorrelation spectroscopy. Neutron scattering: Neutron sources and detectors: typical experimental layout; Structure of disordered systems: neutron diffraction at a wide and small angle, comparison with X-ray; inelastic neutron scattering and spectroscopy: TAS, TOF, Backscattering, Spin-Echo.
Prerequisites:
(no information given)
Key reading:
(no information given)
Learning outcome of the module Codes of the learning outcomes of the programme to which the learning outcome of the module is related [level of competence: scale 1-5]
Students will be able to understand and analyze scientific reports concerning experimental, theoretical, and computational studies concerning the physics of disordered and off-equilibrium systems [MB_03_1]
 KBF_W01 [4/5] KBF_W03 [4/5] KBF_W07 [4/5] KBF_W10 [4/5] KBF_U11 [4/5] KBF_K02 [4/5]
Type Description Codes of the learning outcomes of the module to which assessment is related
exam [MB_03_w_1]
oral exam
 MB_03_1
Form of teaching Student's own work Assessment of the learning outcomes
Type Description (including teaching methods) Number of hours Description Number of hours
lecture [MB_03_fs_1]
Detailed discussion by the lecturer of the issues listed in the table "module description" using the table and/or multimedia presentations
 48
Supplementary reading, working with the textbook
 102 exam [MB_03_w_1]
Attachments
Module description (PDF)
Information concerning module syllabuses might be changed during studies.
Syllabuses (USOSweb)
Semester Module Language of instruction
(no information given)