Quantum and temperature effects on Davydov soliton dynamics: Averaged Hamiltonian method

Abstract

The dynamics of Davydov solitons within the so-called mod D1> state which allows quantum effects in the lattice are studied at physiological temperatures using Davydov's averaged Hamiltonian method. For this purpose the Euler-Lagrange method is used to obtain approximate equations of motion from a thermally averaged Hamiltonian. Within mod D1> dynamics at T=0K and for parameter values appropriate for proteins, no solitons are found. It is demonstrated that temperature effects at 300 K shift the stability window for travelling solitons into regions of the parameter space which might be realistic for proteins.