Dynamics and kinetics of network models

Frequently, chemical and biological systems can be described by simple network models, where the properties depend not on the spatial arrangement of the constituents, but purely on the topology of the model. This holds for the mechanical and dielectric response of or energy transfer within macromolecular networks. In close cooperation with the group of Alexander Blumen, we study regular and irregular hyperbranched fractals and their chemical realizations analytically and numerically. Connecting our methodology to classical force fields, we are able to study the dynamics of proteins in the presence of external forces – e.g. via an AFM – on very long time scales.