First-order theta-point of a single polymer chain

Abstract

Conformational transitions of a single macromolecule of finite size $N$ cannot be described within standard thermodynamic framework. Taking as a basis a simple model of homopolymer exhibiting a coil-globule transition, we show that a relevant approach is to describe the thermal equilibrium distribution $P_N^{(β)}(t)$ of some variable $t$ characterizing the conformation. Although the mean order parameter exhibits a second-order behaviour in the infinite-size limit, the $Θ$-point arises from the coexistence of two distinct populations, associated with two well-separated peaks of $P_N^{(β)}(t)$ and identified respectively with a coil state and a globule state. Remarkably, this first-order feature increases with the size of the chain. It allows to describe the transition within a two-state model, well-suited to analyse experimental data.