Electronic localization at mesoscopic length scales: different definitions of localization and contact effects in a heuristic DNA model

In this work we investigate the electronic transport along model disordered DNA molecules using an effective tight-binding approach, addressing the localization properties. Different tools to investigate the degree of localization are examined as a function of system length, energy dependence and DN...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The European physical journal. B, Condensed matter physics Condensed matter physics, 2013-03, Vol.86 (3), Article 103
Main Authors: Páez, Carlos J., Schulz, Peter A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Analytical, structural and metabolic biochemistry
Biological and medical sciences
Complex Systems
Condensed Matter Physics
DNA
Dna, deoxyribonucleoproteins
Fluid- and Aerodynamics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Nucleic acids
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Regular Article
Solid State Physics
Thermodynamics
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Summary:In this work we investigate the electronic transport along model disordered DNA molecules using an effective tight-binding approach, addressing the localization properties. Different tools to investigate the degree of localization are examined as a function of system length, energy dependence and DNA to electrode coupling: localization length, participation number and sensitivity to boundary conditions. Combining the results obtained from these different tools, a thermodynamic limit for the model DNA molecule, within the mesoscopic length scale, can be established. Furthermore, three aspects are investigated: (i) the influence of strongly localized resonances on the localization length is discussed as an important mechanism defining the degree of localization for sizes below the thermodynamic limit; (ii) the dependence on the Hamiltonian parameters on a possible diffusive regime for short systems; and, finally, (iii) possible length dependent origins for the large discrepancies among experimental results for the electronic transport in DNA samples.
ISSN:1434-6028
1434-6036
DOI:10.1140/epjb/e2013-30728-9