12:15–1:15 pm
KPTC 206
Kersten Physics Teaching Center
Room 206
5720 S. Ellis Avenue
Transients in Physics and Biology
Arvind Murugan, University of Chicago
Host: William Irvine
Abstract:
We tend to characterize simple and complex systems in terms of their steady state properties. Transients before reaching a steady state are seen as a temporary annoyance, even in non-equilibrium systems. However, transients are all important in understanding a system in a time varying environment where the environmental changes are neither slow (adiabatic) nor fast compared to the internal dynamics of the system. We show how transients can be exploited to counter fast evolving viruses, design adaptable materials and to implement recursive Bayesian algorithms using biomolecules. Along the way, we discuss choices a physicist has in picking problems in biology and roads not taken.