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Collapse Transition of Two-Dimensional Flexible and Semiflexible Polymers

Haijun Zhou·Jie Zhou·Zhong-Can Ou-Yang·Sanjay Kumar
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Abstract

The nature of the globule-coil transition of surface-confined polymers has been an issue of debate. Here this 2D collapse transition is studied through a partially directed lattice model. In the general case of polymers with positive bending stiffness ($Δ>0$), the collapse transition is {\em first-order}; it becomes {\em second-order} only in the limiting case of zero bending stiffness ($Δ\equiv 0$). These analytical results are confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations. We also suggest some possible future experiments.

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Haijun Zhou, Jie Zhou, Zhong-Can Ou-Yang, Sanjay Kumar. 2007-01-18. Collapse Transition of Two-Dimensional Flexible and Semiflexible Polymers. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.97.158302

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