Spring  2008 Physics 223c

"The Physics of Biophysics"

Tue-Thu 9:30-10:45 am,  1236 HSSB

Instructor: B. Shraiman  

(KITP 2317, shraiman@kitp.ucsb.edu, office hours Tue 2-4pm)

Teaching Assistant: Kevin Chiou  kikachu@physics.ucsb.edu

(office hours Tue 12-2pm, Thu 1-2pm)

Syllabus:
1.     Random walks.  Langevin, Fokker-Planck and Master equations. 
2.    Noise in molecular reactions
3.    Screening and polyelectrolytes
4.    Introduction to polymer physics
5.    DNA melting and elasticity. Entropic forces
6.    Statistical mechanics of membranes
7.    Dynamical systems and bifurcations
8.    Excitable media. Action potentials.
9.    Pattern formation in extended systems
10.  Introduction to information theory

Suggested reading list:
P. Nelson, "Biological Physics", Freeman (2003)
P.-G. de Gennes, "Scaling concepts in polymer physics", Cornell (1979).
P. Flory, "Statistical mechanics of chain molecules"
J. Israelachvili, "Intermolecular and Surface Forces"
"Statistical mechanics of membranes and surfaces", ed. D. Nelson et al,
Proc of Jerusalem Winter School for Theoretical Physics, World Scientific
(1989).
E.A Jackson, "Perspectives in nonlinear dynamics", V.1-2, Cambridge (1991)
C. Shannon, "A mathematical theory of communication", U. Illinois Press (1949).

Course grade  =  60% homework  + 40% (take-home) final


Homework Assignments:
HW1  due 4/10
HW2 due 4/17
HW3 due 5/1
HW4 due 5/13
HW5 due 5/22

Final Exam.