Abstract:

We present a review of the recently developed landscape and flux theory for non-equilibrium dynamical systems. We point out that the global natures of the associated dynamics for non-equilibrium system are determined by two key factors: the underlying landscape and, importantly, a curl probability flux. The landscape (U) reflects the probability of states (P) (U = − ln P) and provides a global characterization and a stability measure of the system. The curl flux term measures how much detailed balance is broken and is one of the two main driving forces for the non-equilibrium dynamics in addition to the landscape gradient. The landscape and flux theory has many interesting consequences including the fact that irreversible kinetic paths do not necessarily pass through the landscape saddles; non-equilibrium transition state theory at the new saddle on the optimal paths for small but finite fluctuations; a generalized fluctuation–dissipation relationship for non-equilibrium dynamical systems; non-equilibrium thermodynamics; gauge theory and a geometrical connection; coupled landscapes; stochastic spatial dynamics. We provide concrete examples of biological systems to demonstrate the new insights from the landscape and flux theory. These include models of the cell cycle; stem cell differentiation; cancer biology; evolution; neural networks; chaotic strange attractor; development in space. We also give the philosophical implications of the theory and the outlook for future studies.

报告人简介：

　　汪劲1963年生于长春，美国伊利诺伊大学，天体物理学博士。纽约州立大学石溪分校化学系和物理系及应用数学系教授，吉林大学物理学院长江学者特聘教授。汪劲教授主要从事生物物理和化学、系统生物学等研究领域，以第一或主要作者和通讯联系人在国际核心期刊上发表SCI论文260多篇。包括Nature系列2篇，PRL7篇、JACS 4篇，Angew Chem 2篇。总引用6400多次，h-index为44.会议特邀报告及相关学术报告260多次，其中多次在美国化学会年会、美国物理学年会、美国Gorden Conference等重大国际会议上做邀请报告，担任过Gorden Conference和相关重大国际会议主席和副主席。2005年获美国国家自然科学基金生涯奖（Career Award），2010年当选美国物理学会会士（Fellow）。2012年当选美国先进科学协会（AAAS，American Association for the Advancement of Science）会士。2013年中-美化学和化学生物学教授协会授予优秀教授卓越成就奖。