Non-Exponential Relaxation Time Scales in Disordered Systems: an Application to Protein Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper investigates the relaxation dynamics of disordered heteropolymeric chains, comparing Monte Carlo simulations with Langevin normal mode analysis, and contrasts these with ordered homopolymeric chains to understand non-exponential relaxation behaviors.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of relaxation times in disordered versus ordered polymer chains using simulation and analytical methods.

Findings

Disordered chains exhibit non-exponential relaxation time scales.

Monte Carlo and Langevin methods show consistent results for heteropolymeric chains.

Ordered chains relax exponentially, contrasting with disordered systems.

Abstract

We study the dynamics of an heteropolymeric chain relaxing toward a new equilibrium configuration after the action of an external perturbation. We compare the results from Monte Carlo simulations with the results of a Langevin normal mode decomposition. We discuss, for sake of comparison, the case of an ordered homopolymeric chain.