Lattice field theory methods in modern biophysics
Anthony Duncan · Proceedings of XXIVth International Symposium on Lattice Field Theory — PoS(LAT2006) · 2006
An effective field theory exists describing a very large class of biophysically interesting Coulomb gas systems: the lowest order (mean-field) version of this theory takes the form of a generalized Poisson-Boltzmann theory.Interaction terms depend on details (finite-size effects, multipole properties, etc).Convergence of the loop expansion holds only if mutual interactions of mobile charges are small compared to their interaction with the fixed-charge environment, which is frequently not the case.Problems with the strongly-coupled effective theory can be circumvented with an alternative local lattice formulation, with real positive action.In realistic situations, with variable dielectric, a determinant of the Poisson operator must be inserted to generate correct electrostatics.Methods adopted from unquenched lattice QCD do this very efficiently.