Fluctuation-dissipation ratios in the dynamics of self-assembly

TL;DR

This paper uses fluctuation-dissipation ratios to analyze kinetic frustration in self-assembly processes like viral capsid formation and crystallization, providing early indicators of their long-term outcomes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel application of fluctuation-dissipation ratios to assess kinetic frustration in self-assembly, linking early dynamics to final states.

Findings

Fluctuation-dissipation ratios reveal the degree of kinetic frustration.

Early-stage analysis predicts long-term assembly success or failure.

The method applies to diverse self-assembly processes.

Abstract

We consider two seemingly very different self-assembly processes: formation of viral capsids, and crystallization of sticky discs. At low temperatures, assembly is ineffective, since there are many metastable disordered states, which are a source of kinetic frustration. We use fluctuation-dissipation ratios to extract information about the degree of this frustration. We show that our analysis is a useful indicator of the long term fate of the system, based on the early stages of assembly.