dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaQuantum Mechanics in Cell Microtubules: Wild Imagination or Realistic Possibility?
| Authors | N. E. Mavromatos, D. V. Nanopoulos |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | quant-ph/9802063 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9802063 |
Abstract
We focus on potential mechanisms for `energy-loss-free' transport along the cell microtubules, which could be considered as realizations of Fr\"ohlich's ideas on the role of solitons for superconductivity and/or biological matter. In particular, by representing the MT arrangements as `cavities',we present a novel scenario on the formation of macroscopic (or mesoscopic) quantum-coherent states, as a result of the (quantum-electromagnetic) interactions of the MT dimers with the surrounding molecules of the ordered water in the interior of the MT cylinders. We present some generic order of magnitude estimates of the decoherence time in a typical model for MT dynamics. The role of (conjectured) ferroelectric properties of MT arrangements on the above quantum phenomena is emphasized. Based on these considerations, we also present a conjecture on the role of the MT in `holographic' information processing, which resembles the situation encountered in internal source X-ray holography in atomic physics.
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"abstract": "We focus on potential mechanisms for `energy-loss-free\u0027 transport along the\ncell microtubules, which could be considered as realizations of Fr\\\"ohlich\u0027s\nideas on the role of solitons for superconductivity and/or biological matter.\nIn particular, by representing the MT arrangements as `cavities\u0027,we present a\nnovel scenario on the formation of macroscopic (or mesoscopic) quantum-coherent\nstates, as a result of the (quantum-electromagnetic) interactions of the MT\ndimers with the surrounding molecules of the ordered water in the interior of\nthe MT cylinders. We present some generic order of magnitude estimates of the\ndecoherence time in a typical model for MT dynamics. The role of (conjectured)\nferroelectric properties of MT arrangements on the above quantum phenomena is\nemphasized. Based on these considerations, we also present a conjecture on the\nrole of the MT in `holographic\u0027 information processing, which resembles the\nsituation encountered in internal source X-ray holography in atomic physics.",
"arxiv_id": "quant-ph/9802063",
"authors": [
"N. E. Mavromatos",
"D. V. Nanopoulos"
],
"categories": [
"quant-ph",
"cond-mat"
],
"title": "Quantum Mechanics in Cell Microtubules: Wild Imagination or Realistic Possibility?",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9802063"
},
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