Promotionsvortrag Physik: „Multi-scale coupling in selected soft and living matter systems“

Ankündigung des Promotionsvortrags von: Herrn Kevin Höllring
In my dissertation, I have studied the interplay of structure and transport across scales of complex systems. Interactions on smaller scales generally give rise to emergent patterns at larger scales, in turn providing a foundation for transport and interactions at smaller scales. In this talk, I will address two problems – one associated with the formation of hierarchical structures exemplified by tissue formation in response to mechanically different environments. The second example will relate to transport – focusing on understanding diffusion in highly confined molecular systems.
During the formation of tissues, a variety of influences alter the growth behavior of cells that eventually results in different tissue structures. Consequently, the understanding of the interplay of the response of the cells to the tissue’s environment and the establishment and maintenance of correct tissue function is of vital importance regarding various morbidities. Using a master equation approach, I demonstrate a clear multi-scalar link between the stiffness of a tissue’s environment and its emergent structure, linking the mechanoresponse of single cells to that of full tissues through statistical modeling.
For strongly confined liquids, where the characteristic system size is of the same order of magnitude as the scales of the diffusing particle and the interaction potential, understanding transport phenomena has been a long-standing challenge. I present a novel model based on a Smoluchowski-equation that allows for the systematic investigation of diffusive transport perpendicular to the confinement. I will start from a simple model for point-like particles and use a scaling argument to allow for the analysis of the diffusion of complex particles with internal degrees of freedom such as Ionic Liquids. Using this class of systems, I will demonstrate a clear link between local structuring of the liquid constituents and the non-monotonous, spatially resolved diffusion coefficients.
These two examples demonstrate the power of fundamental physics approaches to the studies of highly complex systems.

(Vortrag auf Englisch)

Dem Vortrag schließt sich eine Diskussion von 15 Minuten an. Vortrag und Diskussion sind öffentlich. Diesen Verfahrensteilen folgt ein nicht öffentliches Rigorosum von 45 Minuten.