Research

Research lectures, seminars and events

The events listed in this area are research seminars, workshops and lectures hosted by Durham University departments and research institutes. If you are not a member of the University, but  wish to enquire about attending one of the events please contact the organiser or host department.


 

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Events for 1 March 2013

Chris Prior: Applications of contact geometry and topology

12:00am, CM101

Ensuring that tubular structures do not overlap is a vital consideration for realistic modelling in both biophysics and astrophysics. I will discuss two aspects of my research in which these considerations feature strongly. The first is a model for helically wound elastic rope structures, a model for coiled-coil molecules. The key aspect of this model is the non-linear behaviour induced by the diverging mutual pressure exerted when the structure tightens (a result of its helical geometry), which can explain the higher than expected values of the ratio of torsional to bending rigidity of DNA molecules. I will also discuss a topological framework for quantifying the entanglement of flows which do not close upon themselves, i.e. they are braided rather than knotted. Again I have a particular interest in rope structures and I will introduce an open extension of the Calugareanu theorem a tool commonly used as a topological constraint in polymer physics for closed DNA rings. Finally, I will briefly discuss potential applications for this framework in biophysics and solar physics.

Contact anthony.yeates@durham.ac.uk for more information about this event.