Simulations of Interacting Membranes

The liquid crystalline model biomembrane system consisting of a stack of interacting membranes is studied by the newly developed Fourier Monte Carlo simulation technique. In comparison to perturbation theory, substantial quantitative discrepancies are found that affect determination of interbilayer interactions. A harmonic theory is also routinely used to interpret x-ray scattering line shapes; this is shown to be valid because the distance dependence of the simulated correlation functions can be fairly well fit by the harmonic theory.