Electron Dynamics in a DNA Molecule

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical study of electron behavior in DNA molecules using a two-leg charge ladder model, revealing how electron interactions influence energy gaps and charge distribution in base pairs.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed theoretical model that accounts for electron-electron interactions and spin in DNA, providing new insights into its electronic properties.

Findings

Electron-electron interactions increase energy gaps.

Charge distributions vary between A-T and G-C base pairs.

Energy spectra show a gap structure influenced by interactions.

Abstract

We report on our theoretical investigations of the electronic states in a DNA molecule. We have used a two-leg charge ladder model where electron-electron interactions and the electron spin have been taken into account. The energy spectra for G-C and A-T base pairs obtained by numerically diagonalizing the Hamiltonian reveal a gap structure and the interaction is found to enhance the energy gaps. We also present the charge distribution in the ground state and low-lying excited states for the A-T and G-C base pairs.