A simple model of the charge transfer in DNA-like substances.

Abstract

We present a very simple model for the study of charge transport in a molecule patterned on B-DNA. In this model we use a discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation to describe electrons propagating along the sugar-phosphate backbone of the DNA molecule. We find that in this model, for a given nonlinearity, the transport is controlled by J, a parameter which relates to the electronic coupling between the different molecules on the backbone. For smaller values of J we have localized states while at higher values of J the soliton field is spread out, and through its interaction with the lattice it has stronger effects on the distortion of the lattice.