title: Length scales of lipid dynamics and molecular dynamics.
abstract: Following a brief overview of length scales and system size in computer simulation, it is demonstrated that a simulation sized lipid bilayer (typically a 50 x 50 A2 patch) is in the regime where stretching dominates undulation, while the reverse holds for a flaccid macroscopic membrane. Then it is estimated that current system sizes of membrane simulations must be increased by at least a factor of 10 before thermodynamic limits are approached for quantities such as surface tension.
authors.affiliation: Biophysics Laboratory, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, FDA, Rockville, MD 20852-1448, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Feller
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Pastor
mesh_terms: D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013500:Surface Tension
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D015060:1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine