Speaker
Description
The properties of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules are of key relevance to understanding the complex processes that take place in biological membranes. Albeit structural characterization being the initial step to understanding such systems, ultimately the dynamics over a wider range of timescales are key to understanding function and the interactions tha take place between the multitude of components that can be found in a cell membrane. In this talk I will show how neutron spectroscopy, in particular quasi-elastic scattering, offers attractive possibilities to learn more about the heterogeneous dynamical landscape that exists in membranes. I will use example from simple micelles, simple model membranes and more complex lipidic assemblies.