Low-frequency vibrational modes of viruses used for nanoelectronic self-assemblies

Viruses of cylindrical shape have recently attracted attention as templates for assembly of nanostructured materials and as elements of nanoelectronic circuits. We have calculated the dispersion relations for the lowest vibrational frequencies of the tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and M13 bacteriophage immersed in air or water. The radial breathing modes of TMV and M13 viruses in air (water) are 1.85 cm(-1) and 6.42 cm(-1) (2.10 cm(-1) and 6.12 cm(-1)), respectively. Elastic vibrations of the two viruses in water are damped with the quality factor of 3.6 for the radial breathing modes. (C) 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.