Research of MBN- Science group at FIAS

The MBN- Science group at FIAS studies structure-formation and dynamics of animate and inanimate matter at the micro- and nanometer scales. There are many examples of complex many-body systems of micro- and nanometer scale size exhibiting unique features, properties and functions. These systems may have very different natures and origins, e.g., atomic and molecular clusters, nanoobjects, ensembles of nanoparticles, nanostructures, biomolecules, biomolecular complexes and mesoscopic systems. A detailed understanding of the structure and dynamics of these systems on the nanometer scale is a difficult and fundamental task, the solution of which is necessary in numerous applications of nano- and bio- technology, material science and medicine.

Although mesoscopic, nano- and biomolecular systems differ in their nature and origin, a number of fundamental problems are common to all of them: What are the underlying principles of the self-organization and self-assembly of matter at the micro- and nano-scale? Are these principles classical or quantum? How does function emerge at the nano-and the meso-scale in systems with different origins? What criteria govern the stability of these systems? How do their properties change depending on size and composition? How are their properties altered by their environment? Seeking answers to these questions is at the core of a new interdisciplinary field that lies at the intersection of physics, chemistry and biology, a field now entitled Meso-Bio-Nano (MBN) Science.

All these problems are tackled by the MBN science group at FIAS.

This interdisciplinary field of fundamental research bundles up several traditional disciplines such as theoretical atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter physics, solid state physics, quantum physics and chemistry, classical, quantum and statistical mechanics, physical kinetics, molecular biology, biochemistry and biophysics. A detailed theoretical description and complete understanding of MBN systems and phenomena with their involvement can only be achieved by utilizing a wide range of theoretical approaches and methods known from all these disciplines combined with advanced computational techniques and with the use of powerful computers.

The MBN Science group at FIAS pursues the following directions:

• Structure of MBN systems
• Dynamics of MBN systems
• Clustering, self-organization, structure-formation
• Theoretical and computational methods
• From fundamentals of MBN Science towards applications

Additional details and references on the research of the MBN Science group at FIAS can be found in the annual reports of the MBN Science group which can be downloaded here.