Life-like Self-assembly through Dissipative Adaptation
Abstract
In a collection of particles that is allowed to reach thermal equilibrium, the energy of a given microscopic arrangement and the probability of observing that arrangement obey a simple exponential relationship known as the Boltzmann distribution. Once the same system is driven away from equilibrium by forces that do work on the system over time, however, it is significantly more challenging to relate the likelihood of a given outcome to familiar thermodynamic quantities. Nonetheless, it has long been appreciated that developing a sound and general understanding of the thermodynamics of such non-equilibrium scenarios could ultimately enable us to control and imitate the marvelous of successes that living things achieve in driven self-assembly. This proposal is motivated by recent theoretical work along these lines, suggesting the outline of a general thermodynamic mechanism for self-organization applicable in a broad class of driven many-body systems. In particular, it is has been proposed that, as the result of an affect called dissipative adaptation, the dynamical attractors of far-from-equilibrium many-body systems should be expected to be distinguished by their exceptionally high work absorption during their evolutionary history. In a fluctuating environment this organizational principle in turn implies the emergence of fine-tuning in the structure of the system so that it appears to be recognizing patterns in its environment s fluctuations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- May 02, 2017
- Source ID
- FA95501710136
Entities
People
- Jeremy England
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force