Session A8 - Focus Session: Neutron Scattering and Other Studies of Phospholipids.
FOCUS session, Monday morning, March 22
510A, Palais des Congres
Surface X-ray scattering experiments of collapsed-Langmuir monolayers of arachidic acid (AA) that are spread on CaCl2 solutions reveal that during the collapse process, calcium is ejected from the subphase together with the amphiphile, forming a object where two head-groups of two amphiphiles are bridged by a calcium ion, i.e., linear dimer is formed at the interface. The X-ray reflectivity measurements indicate that the hydrophobic tail of the Ca-induced dimerized AA is in contact with water. Theoretical arguments as well as the status of some follow up experiments will be presented.