Talk (non-conference) (Invited)

FZJ-2024-01895

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Passion for Soft Matter and Life Sciences: Research with Neutrons

Richter, D.FZJ*

2024

Abstract: My talk will start, asking what is soft matter and how does it relate to us? Following DeGennes we’ ll go on a journey through the wonderland of Soft Matter. We shall realize that Soft Matter is all around us from plastics and food to cleaning agents and cosmetics from housing to health and technology. I’ll display the underlaying principles and challenges and emphasize the unique role of neutrons for discovering structure and dynamics. I’ll address examples for self-assembly, the important role of topological constraints in polymer melts, ring polymers and under confinement. Then I’ll switch to biological systems and demonstrate that beyond the key and lock principle for biological function also dynamics plays and important role. At the end I’ll show how a polymer spring in an antibody drives the motions towards docking sites.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Streumethoden (JCNS-2)
2. Streumethoden (PGI-4)
3. JARA-FIT (JARA-FIT)

Research Program(s):

1. 632 - Materials – Quantum, Complex and Functional Materials (POF4-632) (POF4-632)
2. 6G4 - Jülich Centre for Neutron Research (JCNS) (FZJ) (POF4-6G4) (POF4-6G4)

Appears in the scientific report 2024

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