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arXiv · 1302.5897

Phase diagram for a single flexible Stockmayer polymer at zero field

Joan J. Cerdà·Pedro A. Sánchez·Christian Holm·Tomàs Sintes
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Abstract

The equilibrium conformations of a flexible permanent magnetic chain that consists of a sequence of linked magnetic colloidal nanoparticles with short-ranged Lennard-Jones attractive interactions (Stockmayer polymer) are thoroughly analysed via Langevin dynamics simulations. A tentative phase diagram is presented for a chain of length $N=100$. The phase diagram exhibits several unusual conformational phases when compared with the non-magnetic chains. These phases are characterised by a large degree of conformational anisotropy, and consist of closed chains, helicoidal-like states, partially collapsed states, and very compact disordered states. The phase diagram contains several interesting features like the existence of at least two 'triple points'.

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Joan J. Cerdà, Pedro A. Sánchez, Christian Holm, Tomàs Sintes. 2013-02-24. Phase diagram for a single flexible Stockmayer polymer at zero field. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3sm50278c

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