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Progress in Physics

Table of Content

    12 October 2020, Volume 40 Issue 1    Next Issue
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    Understanding and Applying the Length-scale Dependence Mechanism of Hydrophobic Interaction
    Di Wei-Shuai, Wang Juan, Mei Yue-Hai, Cao Yi
    2020, 40 (1):  1-18. 
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    The length-scale dependence theory established by Lum, Chandler and Week provided a new insight into interpreting, studying and applying hydrophobic interaction. Hydrophobic hydration free energy decreases with the volume of solute at small length regime (< 1 nm) and increases with the surface area of solute at a larger length regime (> 1 nm). The crossover length near 1 nm indicates an entropic and enthalpic co-dominant hydration process at micro level which is distinct to the macro-level phenomenon. In this review, we showed the dependence of hydrophobic hydration free energy on temperature, pressure and additives. Especially, single-molecule force spectroscopy was introduced to provide a method to investigate hydrophobic interaction with respect to polymers. Furthermore, various applications relevant to hydrophobic interaction were represented to inspire deeper researches and explorations. Moreover, hydrophobic interaction underlying the protein folding and membrane assembly was further understood based on these promising progresses.
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    SOS: symmetry-operational similarity
    Li Xiang
    2020, 40 (1):  19-31. 
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    Symmetry often governs condensed matter physics. The action of breaking symmetry spontaneously leads to phase transitions, and various observables or observable physical phenomena can be directly associated with broken symmetries. Examples include ferroelectric polarization, ferromagnetic magnetization, optical activities (including Faraday and magneto-optic Kerr rotations), second harmonic generation, photogalvanic effects, nonreciprocity, various Hall-effect-type transport properties, and multiferroicity. Herein, we propose that observable physical phenomena can occur when specimen constituents (i.e., lattice distortions or spin arrangements, in external fields or other environments, etc.) and measuring probes/quantities (i.e., propagating light, electrons or other particles in various polarization states, including vortex beams of light and electrons, bulk polarization or magnetization, etc.) share symmetry operational similarity (SOS) in relation to broken symmetries. The power of the SOS approach lies in providing simple and physically transparent views of otherwise unintuitive phenomena in complex materials. In turn, this approach can be leveraged to identify new materials that exhibit potentially desired properties as well as new phenomena in known materials. (Abstract compiled from Sang-Wook Cheong. npj Quantum Materials, 2019, 4: 53)
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