title: Molecular dynamics simulation of short-wavelength collective dynamics of phospholipid membranes.
abstract: We investigated the short-wavelength longitudinal and transverse collective dynamics of the fluid and gel phases of phospholipid bilayers by means of molecular dynamics simulation. Similarly to a crystal, the spectrum of collective excitations in a bilayer consists of longitudinal and transverse acoustic modes, though modified by disorder. Beside acoustic modes, a series of broad dispersionless excitations are revealed. The dispersion curves of the observed excitations may be represented in a pseudo-Brillouin zone scheme centered around the spatial correlation peak of the acyl chains. The study provides evidence for a resonant interaction between the lowest frequency optical phonon and the longitudinal acoustic mode.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Conti Nibali
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica, Università degli Studi di Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.affiliation: UMR Structure et Réactivité des Systèmes Moléculaires Complexes, Nancy University, CNRS, Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Mounir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tarek
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D044367:Phase Transition; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids; D004134:Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine