Regensburg 2007 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 5: Polymer Physics II
CPP 5.1: Talk
Monday, March 26, 2007, 14:30–14:45, H40
Characterizing knots in polymer coil and globule phases — •Peter Virnau1, Mehran Kardar2, and Yacov Kantor3 — 1Uni Mainz — 2Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Physics — 3Tel Aviv University, School of Physics and Astronomy
We examine the statistics of knots with numerical simulations of a model polymer, spanning high temperature (coil) and low temperature (globule) phases. All monomers in the model interact via a Lennard-Jones potential, while adjacent beads are connected by flexible springs. Although relatively simple, this model provides a realistic description of polyethylene, thus relating the simulation results to specific polymers. We find that knots are common in the globule phase and under confinement, but rare in coils. We also associate a typical size with the knots, and find knots to be small (tight) in the swollen phase, and large (loose) in the dense phase.