Quasi-Elastic Scattering Studies of Water Diffusion

Authors

H. E. Rorschach, Rice University
D. W. Bearden, Rice University
C. F. Hazlewood, Baylor College of Medicine
D. B. Heidorn, Los Alamos National Laboratory
R. M. Nicklow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Abstract

Quasi-elastic neutron scattering is a powerful method to study the dynamics of protons in biological systems. The technique has been used both for the study of water diffusion and protein motion. The neutron scattering measurements on water show that the translational and rotational diffusion coefficients in biological systems are reduced from bulk values. We review the measurements on water in frog muscle, cysts of artemia, and phycocyanin. Measurements on dry trypsin and trypsin-D₂O solutions over the temperature range 75-300K show that there is proton motion at the one angstrom level even in the dry or frozen state.

Recommended Citation

Rorschach, H. E.; Bearden, D. W.; Hazlewood, C. F.; Heidorn, D. B.; and Nicklow, R. M. (1987) "Quasi-Elastic Scattering Studies of Water Diffusion," Scanning Microscopy: Vol. 1: No. 4, Article 51.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/microscopy/vol1/iss4/51