aspuru-list April 2011

aspuru-list@lists.fas.harvard.edu

23 participants
74 discussions

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] [Aspuru-meetings-list] Group meeting by Sangwoo tomorrow

by Joel Yuen

When: Friday, April 22nd from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Where: Cabot Division Room at Mallinckrodt What: Sangwoo is up for group meeting: "I will talk about our recent simulation on the long-lived coherence during the electronic energy transfer in FMO complex. Our method utilizes molecular dynamics simulations and QM/MM to get a description of the bath. We obtained population beating similar to the result of Ishizaki's hierarchical equation of motion at 77K and 300K without ad hoc parameters. The spectral density from the autocorrelation function has realistic peaks at the chromophore's characteristic vibrational frequency. We checked the concept of 'coherence protection by the protein environment' by removing site-site cross correlations while maintaining the other factors same. The effect of the decaying time of the correlation function on the exciton dynamics was studied utilizing first-order autoregressive processes. Also, some preliminary results will be presented. Finally, the role of the protein environment on the energy transfer process will be discussed." -- Joel Yuen-Zhou PhD candidate in Chemical Physics Harvard University CCB, 12 Oxford St. Mailbox 107, Cambridge, MA, USA. _______________________________________________ Aspuru-meetings-list mailing list Aspuru-meetings-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu http://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/aspuru-meetings-list

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] A critical view on transport and entanglement in models of photosynthesis. (...

by Man Hong

Sorry for keep sending papers to the group; this one definitely sounds interesting to many of us, and these guys are big names in the quantum information community. Sent to you by Man Hong via Google Reader: A critical view on transport and entanglement in models of photosynthesis. (arXiv:1104.3883v1 [quant-ph]) via quant-ph updates on arXiv.org on 4/20/11 Authors: Markus Tiersch, Sandu Popescu, Hans J. Briegel Quantum effects in biological light-harvesting molecules, such as quantum coherence of excitonic states and entanglement have recently gained much attention. We observe a certain discrepancy between the original experimental work and several theoretical treatments of coherent excitation transport in light-harvesting molecules. Contrary to what is generally stated, we argue that entanglement in such molecules is generally not equivalent to the presence of coherence but mostly introduced by initial assumptions underlying the models, and that entanglement, as opposite to coherence, seems to play no role in the transport efficiency. Things you can do from here: - Subscribe to quant-ph updates on arXiv.org using Google Reader - Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] for lucky owners of IPhones

by Semion Saikin

http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/04/apple-location-tracking.html#access

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] TODAY at 5pm: "Fungal Diversity, Global Change, and Ecosystems" with Kathleen Treseder

by Center for the Environment

Ecological studies are the bridge that link biodiversity and global change issues. Please join us at the joint OEB Seminar and Harvard University Center for the Environment Bank of America series on Biodiversity, Ecology, and Global Change “Fungal Diversity, Global Change, and Ecosystems” Kathleen Treseder, Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine Wednesday, April 20 5:00 pm Biolabs Lecture Hall Harvard University 16 Divinity Ave Cambridge, MA Abstract: We are investigating the role of fungi in mediating ecosystem responses to global change. Specifically, we tested for changes in the community composition and function of fungi under global warming, and examined potential consequences for the release of greenhouse gases from the soil. Our goal was to determine whether fungi might form positive or negative feedbacks on global warming. Our studies were conducted in boreal soils in Alaska, where a significant portion of the Earth’s carbon is stored. We used quantitative PCR and DNA sequencing to characterize shifts in the abundance and diversity of fungi, and we found that fungal abundance declined while fungal diversity increased. Overall, our findings suggest that in the short term, fungi may form a negative feedback on global warming owing to their decrease in abundance, respiration, and use of recalcitrant organic nitrogen. Over the longer term, however, changes in the fungal community might lead to proliferation of fungal taxa that target lignocellulose, which could ultimately reduce soil carbon storage. Kathleen Treseder’s research examines the role of fungi in mediating ecosystem responses to global change. Along with bacteria and other soil biota, fungi control several critical biogeochemical processes, including plant nutrient acquisition, decomposition of dead biomass, sequestration of nutrients in living and dead fungal tissue, and release of trace gases such as methyl halides. By trying to understand the specific fungal groups involved and their individual responses to the environment, her research tries to predict ecosystem-level responses to environmental variation. The Biodiversity, Ecology, and Global Change lecture series is sponsored by the Harvard University Center for the Environment with generous support from Bank of America. The lecture will be followed by a reception in the Biolabs lobby. Contact: Lisa Matthews Events Coordinator Harvard University Center for the Environment 24 Oxford Street Cambridge, MA 02138 lisa_matthews(a)harvard.edu p. 617-495-8883 f. 617-496-0425 *|LIST_BIODIVERSITY|* [2]Unsubscribe aspuru-list(a)lists.fas.harvard.edu from this list. Links: 2. http://harvard.us1.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=7532d1fbf18f39219ac742ebe&… Our mailing address is: 24 Oxford St. Cambridge, MA 02138 T: (617) 495-0368 www.environment.harvard.edu Copyright (C) 2008 Harvard University. All rights reserved. [3]Forward this email to a friend Links: 3. http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=7532d1fbf18f39219ac742ebe&id=895… this email to a friend Links: 3. http://us1.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=7532d1fbf18f39219ac742ebe&id=895…

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] The Moore's Law of solar energy

by Man Hong Yung

Sent to you via Google Reader The Moore's Law of solar energy This article was originally posted at Scientific American. It's reprinted with permission. The sun strikes every square meter of our planet with more than 1,360 watts of power. Half of that energy is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into space. Seven hundred watts of power, on average, reaches Earth's surface. Summed across the half of the Earth that the sun is shining on, that is 89 petawatts of power. By comparison, all of human civilization uses around 15 terrawatts of power, or one six-thousandth as much. In 14 and a half seconds, the sun provides as much energy to Earth as humanity uses in a day. The numbers are staggering and surprising. In 88 minutes, the sun provides 470 exajoules of energy, as much energy as humanity consumes in a year. In 112 hours — less than five days — it provides 36 zettajoules of energy - as much energy as is contained in all proven reserves of oil, coal, and natural gas on this planet. If humanity could capture one tenth of one percent of the solar energy striking the Earth — one part in one thousand — we would have access to six times as much energy as we consume in all forms today, with almost no greenhouse gas emissions. At the current rate of energy consumption increase — about 1 percent per year — we will not be using that much energy for another 180 years. It's small wonder, then, that scientists and entrepreneurs alike are investing in solar energy technologies to capture some of the abundant power around us. Yet solar power is still a minuscule fraction of all power generation capacity on the planet. There is at most 30 gigawatts of solar generating capacity deployed today, or about 0.2 percent of all energy production. Up until now, while solar energy has been abundant, the systems to capture it have been expensive and inefficient. That is changing. Over the last 30 years, researchers have watched as the price of capturing solar energy has dropped exponentially. There's now frequent talk of a "Moore's law" in solar energy. In computing, Moore's law dictates that the number of components that can be placed on a chip doubles every 18 months. More practically speaking, the amount of computing power you can buy for a dollar has roughly doubled every 18 months, for decades. That's the reason that the phone in your pocket has thousands of times as much memory and ten times as much processing... Sent from my iPhone

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] [qip] Wednesday meeting

by Edward Farhi

Dear Quanta We will meet on Wednesday of this week since today was a quasi holiday. We will meet at 11:00 in 6-310. We will have a visitor, Ashish Mani, who will tell us a bit about his work. Also Steve Simon is going to come by. See you there. Best, Eddie ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Edward Farhi Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics Director Center for Theoretical Physics 6-300 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 617 253 4871 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: _______________________________________________ qip mailing list qip(a)mit.edu http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/qip

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] Fwd: ERE Faculty Search

by Aspuru

Alan Aspuru-Guzik Associate Professor Harvard University http://aspuru.chem.harvard.edu Sent from my mobile. Please pardon any typos. Begin forwarded message: > From: "GCEP" <crswan(a)stanford.edu> > Date: April 19, 2011 12:31:45 PM PDT > To: alan(a)aspuru.com > Subject: ERE Faculty Search > > Forwarding on behalf of Energy Resources Engineering > > The Department of Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University invites applications for a tenure-line faculty appointment. The position is at the assistant professor level. We will begin reviewing applications on May 15, 2011 and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. For more information please visit http://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/career/ERE-jobs_faculty_685.html. > > > > > > > > This message was sent to alan(a)aspuru.com from: > Stanford University | Global Climate & Energy Project Jerry Yang & Akiko Yamazaki Environment & Energy Building — 4230 473 Via Ortega | Stanford, CA 94305 > Email Marketing by > > Update Profile | Send To a Friend

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] ANNOUNCEMENT: Excitonics Seminar, TUES, April 26, 3 pm, 34-401A

by Cathy Bourgeois

Please forward to your groups and post in your area ______________________________________ Center for Excitonics Seminar Series Announcement Tuesday, April 26, 2011 3:00 PM Grier A Conference Room: 34-401A "Crystalline Microporous Metal-Organic Frameworks: Opportunities in Energy Research" Prof. Mircea Dincă, MIT Abstract Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline solids wherein inorganic nodes are connected by organic ligands to give rise to highly ordered and monodisperse micropores with diameters ranging from 0.5 to ~ 2 nanometers. The micropores are responsible for unprecedented surface areas occasionally exceeding 5000 m2/g, making MOFs popular choices for energy applications in H2, CH4, and CO2 storage and capture, among others. The crystalline nature of these materials, however, also makes them attractive candidates for studying photophysical phenomena in ordered and/or confined organic chromophore aggregates. Indeed, conformational and/or structural confinement of organic dyes inside the walls of MOFs has been shown to drastically modulate the absorption and emission properties of such molecules. The various applications of MOFs in energy research, with an emphasis on their potential utility in controlling dye aggregation, light harvesting, and other photophysical properties will be discussed. Bio Mircea Dincă was born in Romania and obtained his bachelor's degree in Chemistry from Princeton University in 2003. He did his graduate work at UC Berkeley on the synthesis and characterization of microporous metal-organic frameworks for hydrogen storage and catalysis. After a two-year stint as a postdoctoral associate working on electrochemical water splitting with Prof. Daniel G. Nocera, he became an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry at MIT in 2010. His group's research is concerned with the synthesis of new microporous materials and their physico-chemical properties, with a current emphasis on metal-organic frameworks. Light refreshments provided The Center for Excitonics is an Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science and Office of Basic Energy Sciences

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] Fwd: Photosynthesis X-ray laser experiments

by Alan Aspuru-Guzik

Dear all, Check out this attached paper and message. Pretty cool. I am starting communications wtih John. Alan Alán Aspuru-Guzik | Associate Professor Harvard University | Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology 12 Oxford Street, Room M113 | Cambridge, MA 02138 (617)-384-8188 | http://aspuru.chem.harvard.edu | http://about.me/aspuru ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: John Spence <spence(a)asu.edu> Date: Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 8:49 PM Subject: Photosynthesis X-ray laser experiments To: alan(a)aspuru.com Dear Alan, I have been most interested to read your papers on quantum transport in photosynthesis. Graham Fleming and I were involved in writing the recent grand challenge reports for DOE, and my group has just published the first results of our snap-shot Xray diffraction patterns from molecules of photosystem 1 and photosystem 2, using the first X-ray laser (the LCLS) at Stanford. Our aim in these pump-probe studies is ultimately to make a molecular movie of the excited states of the photosynthetic reaction, hopefully at atomic resolution. This summer I'll be in Boston a fair bit, since my wife's family lives there, and we have a house in Newton. I'm writing to ask if there is a time we could meet to discuss the possibility of imaging the excitonic modes directly (in real space) using the technique described in our recent Nature paper, which I attach. With best regards, John. PS. I'm teaching graduate condensed matter. Regent's Prof John C.H. Spence ASU Physics/LBNL http://www.public.asu.edu/~jspence/ https://sites.google.com/a/lbl.gov/biology-with-fels/

13 years

[Aspuru-Guzik group list] Fwd: Interesting paper

by Alan Aspuru-Guzik

For all of you, esp. the quantum computing crowd :) James, this is important for IARPA :) Alán Aspuru-Guzik | Associate Professor Harvard University | Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology 12 Oxford Street, Room M113 | Cambridge, MA 02138 (617)-384-8188 | http://aspuru.chem.harvard.edu ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Peter Love <plove(a)haverford.edu> Date: Fri, Apr 15, 2011 at 9:18 AM Subject: Interesting paper To: Alan Aspuru-Guzik <aspuru(a)chemistry.harvard.edu>, Daniel Lidar < lidar(a)usc.edu>, Ken Brown <ken.brown(a)chemistry.gatech.edu>, Sabre Kais < kais(a)purdue.edu> -- Peter J. Love Assistant Professor Department of Physics Haverford College 370 Lancaster Avenue Haverford PA 19041-1392 Tel: 610-795-6505

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aspuru-list April 2011