DNA and the double helix: statistical equilibrium and Neumann's principle
Statistical Mechanics
2016-01-14 v3
Abstract
Neumann's principle (that the symmetry of a crystal measurement cannot be lower than that of its point-group) is a corner- stone of crystallography: were it false, then the technique of x-ray diffraction (double-helix, DNA) might well not exist. The literature variously regards its truth as obvious, intuitive, axiomatic or even impossible [10], without further analysis or proof. After identifying and correcting a false lead/start, we give a plausible proof of Neumann's principle, using group theory and quantum statistical mechanics.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0402396,
title = {DNA and the double helix: statistical equilibrium and Neumann's principle},
author = {Michael J. Caola},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0402396},
year = {2016}
}
Comments
Original circa 1972 . Replacement essentially same: 2 typos, new ref [10], more informative title and abstract