Neutron scattering, simulation

Another statistical mechanical approach makes use of the radial distribution function g(r), which gives the probability of finding a molecule at a distance r from a given one. This function may be obtained experimentally from x-ray or neutron scattering on a liquid or from computer simulation or statistical mechanical theories for model potential energies [56]. Kirkwood and Buff [38] showed that for a given potential function, U(r)... 

Direct experiment-simulation quasielastic neutron scattering comparisons have been perfonned for a variety of small molecule and polymeric systems, as described in detail in Refs. 4 and 18-21. The combination of simulation and neutron scattering in the analysis of internal motions in globular proteins was reviewed in 1991 [3] and 1997 [4]. 

A dynamic transition in the internal motions of proteins is seen with increasing temperamre [22]. The basic elements of this transition are reproduced by MD simulation [23]. As the temperature is increased, a transition from harmonic to anharmonic motion is seen, evidenced by a rapid increase in the atomic mean-square displacements. Comparison of simulation with quasielastic neutron scattering experiment has led to an interpretation of the dynamics involved in terms of rigid-body motions of the side chain atoms, in a way analogous to that shown above for the X-ray diffuse scattering [24]. 

Clearly, the best way to assess the ability of MD simulations to reproduce neutron scattering results is to compare measured and computed spectra directly, one on top of the other. 

Figure 10 Elastic incoherent structure factors for lipid H atoms obtained from an MD simulation of a fully hydrated DPPC bilayer, and quasielastic neutron scattering experiments on DPPC bilayers at two hydration levels for (a) motion in the plane of the bilayer and (b) motion m the direction of the bilayer normal.

I am pleased to acknowledge that the simulation results presented in this chapter were obtained from calculations carried out in collaboration with Kechuan Tu, Mike Klein, and Kent Blasie. The calculations and fitting of the neutron scattering spectra benefited from discussions with Mounir Tarek. Financial support was provided by the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California at Irvine and a grant from the donors of The Petroleum Research Fund, administered by the American Chemical Society (ACS-PRF 33247-G7). 

More recently, simulation studies focused on surface melting [198] and on the molecular-scale growth kinetics and its anisotropy at ice-water interfaces [199-204]. Essmann and Geiger [202] compared the simulated structure of vapor-deposited amorphous ice with neutron scattering data and found that the simulated structure is between the structures of high and low density amorphous ice. Nada and Furukawa [204] observed different growth mechanisms for different surfaces, namely layer-by-layer growth kinetics for the basal face and what the authors call a collected-molecule process for the prismatic system. 

Those Warren-Cowley parameters have been determined in situ above the order-disorder transition temperature by diffuse neutron scattering. From these experimentally determined static correlations, the first nine effective pair interactions have been deduced using inverse Monte Carlo simulations. 

The density of states (DOS) of lattice phonons has been calculated by lattice dynamical methods [111]. The vibrational DOS of orthorhombic Ss up to about 500 cm has been determined by neutron scattering [121] and calculated by MD simulations of a flexible molecule model [118,122]. 

Supercomputers can be directed to the study of techniques as well as materials and processes. For example, one can simulate neutron scattering experiments with the goal of elucidating the effects of approximations usually made In "standard treatments of the experimental data. 

Thus, the starting parameters for the computer-simulation of spectrum IB were chosen to agree with the value of hyperfine fields at 613 K as measured by Rlste and Tenzer, using neutron scattering measurements (36). In addition, the magnetic relaxation rate depends on temperature, as discussed in the Theory section of this paper. 

Fig. 6.5. Coherent structure function S(q) in absolute units in comparison to amorphous cell simulations [194] and neutron scattering data [185]...

Fig. 4. A schematic two-dimensional illustration of the idea for an information theory model of hydrophobic hydration. Direct insertion of a solute of substantial size (the larger circle) will be impractical. For smaller solutes (the smaller circles) the situation is tractable a successful insertion is found, for example, in the upper panel on the right. For either the small or the large solute, statistical information can be collected that leads to reasonable but approximate models of the hydration free energy, Eq. (7). An important issue is that the solvent configurations (here, the point sets) are supplied by simulation or X-ray or neutron scattering experiments. Therefore, solvent structural assumptions can be avoided to some degree. The point set for the upper panel is obtained by pseudo-random-number generation so the correct inference would be of a Poisson distribution of points and = kTpv where v is the van der Waals volume of the solute. Quasi-random series were used for the bottom panel so those inferences should be different. See Pratt et al. (1999).

Additional insights into the dynamics and structure of bimodal elastomers have been obtained by dynamic light-scattering experiments [129], neutron scattering experiments [130] and calculations [131], dual cross-linking system experiments [132], non-affine swelling [133], and the computer simulations already mentioned. 

There has been extensive effort in recent years to use coordinated experimental and simulation studies of polymer melts to better understand the connection between polymer motion and conformational dynamics. Although no experimental method directly measures conformational dynamics, several experimental probes of molecular motion are spatially local or are sensitive to local motions in polymers. Coordinated simulation and experimental studies of local motion in polymers have been conducted for dielectric relaxation,152-158 dynamic neutron scattering,157,159-164 and NMR spin-lattice relaxation.17,152,165-168 A particularly important outcome of these studies is the improved understanding of the relationship between the probed motions of the polymer chains and the underlying conformational dynamics that leads to observed motions. In the following discussion, we will focus on the... 

Chem. Phys., 107, 4751 (1997). Local Dynamics in a Long-Chain Alkane Melt from Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Neutron Scattering Experiments. 

G. D. Smith, W. Paul, M. Monkenbusch, and D. Richter, Chem. Phys., 261, 61 (2000). A Comparison of Neutron Scattering Studies and Computer Simulations of Polymer Melts. 

Phys. Condens. Matter, 15, S1127 (2003). Self-Motion and the a-Relaxation in Glass-Forming Polymers. Molecular Dynamic Simulation and Quasielastic Neutron Scattering Results in Polyisoprene. 

Macromolecules, 35, 7110 (2002). Segmental Dynamics of Atactic Polypropylene as Revealed by Molecular Simulations and Quasielastic Neutron Scattering. 

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