Quantum mechanics, universal scaling, and ferroelectric hysteresis regimes in the giant squid axon propagating action potential: A phase space approach

Experimental data for giant squid axon propagating action potential is examined in phase space and it is parsed into three distinct parts: properties of individual sodium and potassium channels, morphing of sodium channels and two narrow regions pertaining to ferroelectric polarization flips of sodium channels lattice. Plots of ionic currents vs. potential exhibit quasilinear segments yielding temperature dependent maximum conductance constants and the related time rates. Plotting ionic time rates as Boltzmann kinetic rates yields activation energies similar to activation energies of 0.6 eV for rate-limiting bio-chemical metabolic reactions. Fractions of open sodium and potassium channels and fractions of completed sodium channels morphing are fitted by modified Avrami equations seeded with the Fine Structure Constant α = 0.007297352 from quantum electrodynamics. Present analysis shows approximately 10x10−9 Coulomb/cm2 “gating charge” moving across the membrane as fraction of open sodium channels reaches 0.25. Evidence is presented that action potential traverses a heat releasing ferroelectric hysteresis loop. The heat released at 19.8 oC is estimated to be double the heat released at 4.5 oC. Experimental data shows that the propagation constant and the maximum sodium conductance have similar temperature behavior, allowing to calculate the optimum sodium channel density that is close to the observed density. Evidence is presented that propagating action potential perpetuates its propagation by triggering sodium channel lattice polarization flip. It is expected that presented results will provide the framework for further analysis of biological excitability, ionic channels lattice structure, thermodynamic phase changing behavior, and the role of quantum mechanics in biochemical reactions mediating the flow of ions trough ionic channels. The critical role of ferroelectric sodium channels lattice behavior has far reaching implications for neuronal storing and retrieval of information.