Physics Colloquium

Living systems exhibit various robust dynamics during system regulation, growth, and motility. However, how robustness emerges from stochastic components remains unclear. Towards understanding this, I develop topological theories that support robust edge currents and localization, effectively reducing the system function to a lower-dimensional subspace. I will introduce stochastic networks in molecular reaction space that model long and stable time scales, such as the circadian rhythm. More generally, we prove that unlike their quantum counterparts, stochastic topological systems require non-Hermiticity for edge states and strong localization. Our work provides design principles for the synthesis and control of active systems.

Join via Zoom:
https://caltech.zoom.us/j/89860951893
Meeting ID: 818 6692 9019

The colloquium is held in Feynman Lecture Hall, 201 E. Bridge.