Reply to ‘‘Comment on ‘DNA solitons with realistic parameters’’

The criticized aspects of our original paper [Phys. Rev. A 40, 6134 (1989)] are considered; comparisons are made between the two calculations: the original and that described in the preceding Comment [Techera, Daemen, and Prohofsky, Phys. Rev. A 42, 5033 (1990)]. We show that when a complete account of all differing features of the two calculations is made, the criticized parameter value corresponds almost perfectly with that of the Comment. Furthermore, we display a rerun of the disputed calculation in which the parameter values have been changed in accord with those advised in the Comment. The results are fully consistent with our earlier calculation, rather than those of the Comment. We have also rerun our calculation to study the case described in the Comment, that of two solitons crossing each other. Contrary to the assertions of the Comment, we find that the simulation produces the expected solitonlike crossing behavior. We point out that the differences in computed behavior seem to arise from faulty programming in one or the other of the two calculations. We give the results of certain tests run for checking our program. We also discuss the accuracy criterion used by the authors of the preceding Comment.