  
|
     
|
The European Physical Journal B
ISSN: 1434-6028 (printed version)
ISSN: 1434-6036 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 1 Issue 4 (1998) pp 465-480
Fluctuation-magnification of non-equilibrium membranes near a wall
J. Prost (1) (a), J.-B. Manneville (1), R. Bruinsma (2)
(1) "Physico-Chimie Curie", 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
(2) Department of Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
Received: 1 September 1997 / Accepted: 3 December 1997
Abstract: Membranes in thermal equilibrium are well known to exhibit Brownian motion type shape fluctuations. Membranes containing active force centers -- such as chemically active membrane proteins -- suffer additional non-equilibrium shape fluctuations due to the activity of these force centers. We demonstrate, using scaling arguments, that non-equilibrium shape fluctuations are in general greatly amplified by the presence of a nearby wall or membrane due to the absence of a fluctuation-dissipation theorem. For adhesive membranes, this fluctuation magnification effect may facilitate the establishment of bonding. For non-adhesive membranes, fluctuation magnification produces a long-range repulsive pressure which can exceed the well known Helfrich repulsion due to purely thermal fluctuations.
PACS. 87.22.Bt Membrane and subcellular physics and structure - 82.65.Dp Thermodynamics of surfaces and interfaces
(a) email: prost@curie.fr
Online publication: March 19, 1998
LINK Helpdesk
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag 1998