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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 5: Polymer Physics II

CPP 5.1: Vortrag

Montag, 26. März 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.