Jana B. Nieder (International Iberian Nanotechnolgy Laboratory - INL)

Abstract:

Single molecule techniques have the potential to reveal information about excitation energy transfer processes in complex multi chromophoric systems.
In this seminar talk I will present the application of low temperature, plasmonic and ultrafast femtosecond pulse shaping single molecule spectroscopy techniques, that are able to advance the understanding of energy transfer processes in photosynthetic pigment protein complexes.
The results point towards the importance of quantum biology in photosynthesis.

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Date & time: 22/04/2016 at 14:30.

Location: Room P3.10, Mathematics Building, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon.

Stefano Iubini (CNRS Orléans​)

Abstract:

Sometimes it is more convenient to store excess energy in a small region of space rather than spreading it over all the available volume. This may happen when the evolution of a system is characterized by additional dynamic constraints that promote energy localization for entropic reasons.
In this seminar I will discuss the role of peculiar nonlinear excitations (discrete breathers) for the localization process in networks of coupled oscillators.
Particular attention will be devoted to the dynamics of a Discrete Nonlinear Schroedinger Equation which exhibits a metastable phase with a finite density of breathers and partial energy localization.
Such state persists over very long (astronomical) times as a consequence of the extremely low interaction of these excitations with the surrounding background.

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Date & time: 19/04/2016 at 11:30.

Location: Room P3.10, Mathematics Building, Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon.