Showing papers by "David Ruelle published in 2015"
TL;DR: This note analyzes the physical basis of J.R. England’s paper “Statistical physics of self-replication,” follows his use of time-reversal symmetry but replaces stochastic by deterministic dynamics, and introduces a definition of metastable states based on equilibrium statistical mechanics.
Abstract: This note analyzes the physical basis of J.R. England’s paper “Statistical physics of self-replication.” [J. Chem. Phys. 139, 121923 (2013)]. We follow England’s use of time-reversal symmetry but replace stochastic by deterministic dynamics, and introduce a definition of metastable states based on equilibrium statistical mechanics. We rederive England’s detailed balance relation and obtain another similar relation which appears more natural and remains valid for quantum systems. The detailed balance relations are based on serious physical ideas, and either of them can be used for England’s biological discussion. This biological discussion does of course deserve further scrutiny. This article is supplemented with comments by P. Gaspard.
4 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a generalized detailed balance relation for the ratio of the transition probabilities of a thermal bath system with metastable solute molecules in metastable states was obtained. But the ratio was not shown to be linear in the amount of enthalpy released to the bath.
Abstract: Given a system $M$ in a thermal bath we obtain a generalized detailed balance relation for the ratio $r=\pi_\tau(K\to J)/\pi_\tau(J\to K)$ of the transition probabilities $M:J\to K$ and $M:K\to J$ in time $\tau$. We assume an active bath, containing solute molecules in metastable states. These molecules may react with $M$ and the transition $J\to K$ occurs through different channels $\alpha$ involving different reactions with the bath. We find that $r=\sum p^\alpha r^\alpha$, where $p^\alpha$ is the probability that channel $\alpha$ occurs, and $r^\alpha$ depends on the amount of heat (more precisely enthalpy) released to the bath in channel $\alpha$.
4 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the physical basis of J.R. England's paper "Statistical physics of self-replication" is analyzed and a definition of metastable states based on equilibrium statistical mechanics is introduced.
Abstract: This note analyzes the physical basis of J.R. England's paper "Statistical physics of self-replication." [J. Chem. Phys. {\bf 139}, 121923(2013)]. We follow England's use of time-reversal symmetry but replace stochastic by deterministic dynamics, and introduce a definition of metastable states based on equilibrium statistical mechanics. We rederive England's detailed balance relation and obtain another similar relation which appears more natural and remains valid for quantum systems. The detailed balance relations are based on serious physical ideas, and either of them can be used for England's biological discussion. This biological discussion does of course deserve further scrutiny.
2 citations