E. Del Giudice

Electromagnetic field and spontaneous symmetry breaking in biological matter

Abstract Dynamical effects of electromagnetic interaction among electric dipoles in biological systems are studied. On the basis of a previous analysis in terms of spontaneous breakdown of symmetry we show that the Anderson-Higgs-Kibble mechanism occurs, which manifests itself in a self-focusing mechanism of propagation for the electromagnetic field inside the biological systems. Phenomenological consequences, such as the formation of filamentary structures of the type occurring in cell cytoskeleton, are analyzed. The appearance of nonzero temperature due to the finite size and polarization of the system, and the relation with dissipativity are also discussed.

QED coherence and electrolyte solutions

In the framework of quantum electrodynamics (QED), the universally accepted theory of ordinary condensed matter, we analyse a system of ions dissolved in water. Contrary to the common opinion that for aqueous solutions in normal conditions, QED can be well approximated by classical physics or by the semiclassical approximations of molecular dynamics, we find for such systems QED solutions of a very different nature. Such solutions appear to solve several paradoxes that plague the conventional approaches. Our main result is that ions dissolved in water are not in a gaseous state, but settle in a coherent configuration, where they perform plasma oscillations in resonance with a coherent electromagnetic field, thus providing a satisfactory understanding of the thermodynamics of electrolytes. In this new framework, we also find a simple explanation of the phenomenon of osmosis.

Structures, Correlations and Electromagnetic Interactions in Living Matter: Theory and Applications

Modern physics has elucidated many problems about the structure of complex systems by connecting the apparent macroscopic features to the collective properties of microscopic components. The bridge is provided by the Quantum Field Theory (QFT), which has been recognized as equivalent to a statistical mechanics of assemblies with infinite degrees of freedom. Moreover the quantum theory has been able to account for the emergence of ordered systems from non-ordered sets of microscopic components. Crystals, ferromagnets and superconductors have been successfully described by this approach.

Self-focusing of Fröhlich waves and cytoskeleton dynamics

Abstract We discuss the occurence of self-focusing of Frohlich electric vibrations in living cells by investigating the Kerr activity of actin solutions. This process could provide a dynamical support of the filamentous microstructure of cell cytoplasm.

SPONTANEOUS SYMMETRY BREAKDOWN AND BOSON CONDENSATION IN BIOLOGY

Abstract Electric polarization waves predicted by Frolich in living cells are identified as the Goldstone massless modes which appear as a consequence of the spontaneous breakdown of the SU(2) dipole-rotational symmetry. This breaking is provided by the water polarization induced by Davydov solitons travelling on molecular chains.

Nonlinear properties of coherent electric vibrations in living cells

Abstract It is shown that the coherent electric longitudinal vibrations predicted by Frohlich and experimentally detected by Webb in living cells actually obey nonlinear optical laws. These vibrations might form a network of filaments inside cells.

Spontaneous symmetry breaking and electromagnetic interactions in biological systems

Dynamics of biological systems is investigated in the framework of spontaneous symmetry breaking. Non equilibrium features are considered taking advantage of the existence of many unitarily inequivalent vacua. Anderson-Higgs-Kibble mechanism is shown to be relevant and electromagnetic fields are shown to propagate as self-trapped filaments. Magnetic flux quantization is derived. Some phenomenological consequences are investigated and discussed.

Order and Structures in Living Systems

Biological systems are characterized by structure and dynamical ordering. Molecular biologists have gone a long way towards understanding structure. Research into dynamics is in progress. The aim is to elucidate how the large number of molecules in a cell can arrange themselves in ordered and meaningful patterns, avoiding mistakes and the kind of disordered behavior which produces heating. Actually the constance of temperature during the biological life cycle can be considered as a rough principle of biology. This means from a physical point of view that the energy released from metabolic reactions supplies collective degrees of freedom without any thermal losses, i.e. without increasing the system temperature.

Raman spectroscopy and order in biological systems.

The Raman spectra in the low 5–200 cm−1 frequency region of metabolically activeE. coli cells have been analyzed to determine whether they are indicators of a possible in vivo underlying order by applying standard concepts derived from the Raman spectroscopy of crystalline systems with varying degrees of order. The analysis suggests that in-vivo space-time ordered structures involving amino acids associated with DNA exist since the low frequency lines of metabolically active cells can be assigned to lines seen in the spectra of crystals of given amino acids known to associated with DNA early in the lifetime of a cell.

A time consistent feature seen in the Raman spectra of metabolically active cells

Abstract High frequency Raman spectra from metabolically active cells, although differing with time, exhibit a common and consistent pattern in time derived from nonlinear optics.