Anharmonic lattice dynamics ofAg2Ostudied by inelastic neutron scattering and first-principles molecular dynamics simulations

It is a long debated question whether catalytic activities of enzymes, which lie on the millisecond timescale, are possibly already reflected in variations in atomic thermal fluctuations on the pico- to nanosecond timescale. To shed light on this puzzle, the enzyme human acetylcholinesterase in its wild-type form and complexed with the inhibitor huperzine A were investigated by various neutron scattering techniques and molecular dynamics simulations. Previous results on elastic neutron scattering at various timescales and simulations suggest that dynamical processes are not affected on average by the presence of the ligand within the considered time ranges between 10 ps and 1 ns. In the work presented here, the focus was laid on quasi-elastic (QENS) and inelastic neutron scattering (INS). These techniques give access to different kinds of individual diffusive motions and to the density of states of collective motions at the sub-picoseconds timescale. Hence, they permit going beyond the first approach of looking at mean square displacements. For both samples, the autocorrelation function was well described by a stretched-exponential function indicating a linkage between the timescales of fast and slow functional relaxation dynamics. The findings of the QENS and INS investigation are discussed in relation to the results of our earlier elastic incoherent neutron scattering and molecular dynamics simulations.

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Inelastic neutron scattering and molecular dynamics studies on low-frequency modes of clathrate hydrates

Canadian Journal of Physics ◽

10.1139/p03-034 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 81 (1-2) ◽

pp. 493-501 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H Itoh ◽

B Chazallon ◽

H Schober ◽

K Kawamura ◽

W F Kuhs

Keyword(s):

Molecular Dynamics ◽

Neutron Scattering ◽

Molecular Dynamics Simulations ◽

Inelastic Neutron Scattering ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Inelastic Neutron ◽

Host Lattice ◽

Clathrate Hydrates ◽

Type I ◽

Dynamics Simulations

Low-frequency modes of gas hydrates with Xe, Ar, O2, and N2 atoms/molecules have been studied by inelastic neutron-scattering and molecular dynamics simulations. Type I and type II clathrate hydrates show some small but significant differences of the low-frequency host contribution to the density of states. Both differ markedly from that of ice Ih and depend only weakly on the guest. The vibrational modes associated with Xe atoms were observed at 2.2, 2.9, and 4.0 meV (T = 100 K). They are in good agreement with predictions from molecular dynamics simulations. In the case of N2 hydrate we found a well-defined peak at about 2 meV, which shows a remarkable shift to higher frequency with increasing temperature. This peak and a broad peak that is overlapped with the host lattice modes (6.5 and 10.5 meV) are assigned to the vibration of N2 molecules in the large and small cages, respectively. The calculated vibrational spectra of N2 molecules in doubly occupied large cages show a significant distinct spectral distribution. The anharmonic shift of the guest atoms in large cages is significantly less pronounced in Xe hydrates suggesting that guest-host interactions can vary considerably from one system to another. PACS Nos.: 82.75-z, 78.70N, 71.15Pd, 63

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