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arXiv · 1402.3899

Comparing open and closed molecular self-assembly

Martin Castelnovo·Timothée Verdier·Lionel Foret
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Abstract

We study theoretically in the present work the self-assembly of molecules in an open system, which is fed by monomers and depleted in partial or complete clusters. Such a scenario is likely to occur for example in the context of viral self-assembly. We provide a general formula for the mean-field size distribution which is valid both at equilibrium in a closed system, and in the stationary state in an open system. This allows us to explore in a simple way out-of-equilibrium features for self-assembly and compare them to equilibrium properties. In particular, we identify a region of parameter space for which the out-of-equilibrium size distribution in the presence of external fluxes is equal to the equilibrium size distribution in the absence of external fluxes, up to a constant renormalization factor. The range of validity of this result and its consequences are discussed.

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Martin Castelnovo, Timothée Verdier, Lionel Foret. 2014-02-17. Comparing open and closed molecular self-assembly. https://doi.org/10.1209/0295-5075%2F105%2F28006

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