arXiv subjects

Enrico Carlon

Publications and source records attributed to Enrico Carlon.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Unbinding of mutually avoiding random walks and two dimensional quantum gravity

We analyze the unbinding transition for a two dimensional lattice polymer in which the constituent strands are mutually avoiding random walks. At low temperatures the strands are bound and form a single self-avoiding walk. We show that unbinding in this model is a strong first order transition. The entropic exponents associated to denaturated loops and end-segments distributions show sharp differences at the transition point and in the high temperature phase. Their values can be deduced from some exact arguments relying on a conformal mapping of copolymer networks into a fluctuating geometry, i.e. in the presence of quantum gravity. An excellent agreement between analytical and numerical estimates is observed for all cases analized.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2004

Reparametrizing loop entropy weights: Effect on DNA melting curves

Recent advances in the understanding of the melting behavior of double-stranded DNA with statistical mechanics methods lead to improved estimates of the weight factors for the dissociation events of the chains, in particular for interior loop melting. So far, in the modeling of DNA melting, the entropy of denaturated loops has been estimated from the number of configurations of a closed self-avoiding walk. It is well understood now that a loop embedded in a chain is characterized by a loop closure exponent c which is higher than that of an isolated loop. Here we report an analysis of DNA melting curves for sequences of a broad range of lengths (from 10 to 10^6 base pairs) calculated with a program based on the algorithms underlying MELTSIM. Using the embedded loop exponent we find that the cooperativity parameter is one order of magnitude bigger than current estimates. We argue that in the melting region the double helix persistence length is greatly reduced compared to its room temperature value, so that the use of the embedded loop closure exponent for real DNA sequences is justified.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

A simple model of DNA denaturation and mutually avoiding walks statistics

Recently Garel, Monthus and Orland (Europhys. Lett. v 55, 132 (2001)) considered a model of DNA denaturation in which excluded volume effects within each strand are neglected, while mutual avoidance is included. Using an approximate scheme they found a first order denaturation. We show that a first order transition for this model follows from exact results for the statistics of two mutually avoiding random walks, whose reunion exponent is c > 2, both in two and three dimensions. Analytical estimates of c due to the interactions with other denaturated loops, as well as numerical calculations, indicate that the transition is even sharper than in models where excluded volume effects are fully incorporated. The probability distribution of distances between homologous base pairs decays as a power law at the transition.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Scaling in DNA unzipping models: denaturated loops and end-segments as branches of a block copolymer network

For a model of DNA denaturation, exponents describing the distributions of denaturated loops and unzipped end-segments are determined by exact enumeration and by Monte Carlo simulations in two and three dimensions. The loop distributions are consistent with first order thermal denaturation in both cases. Results for end-segments show a coexistence of two distinct power laws in the relative distributions, which is not foreseen by a recent approach in which DNA is treated as a homogeneous network of linear polymer segments. This unexpected feature, and the discrepancies with such an approach, are explained in terms of a refined scaling picture in which a precise distinction is made between network branches representing single stranded and effective double stranded segments.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Roles of stiffness and excluded volume in DNA denaturation

The nature and the universal properties of DNA thermal denaturation are investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. For suitable lattice models we determine the exponent c describing the decay of the probability distribution of denaturated loops of length l, $P \sim l^{-c}$. If excluded volume effects are fully taken into account, c= 2.10(4) is consistent with a first order transition. The stiffness of the double stranded chain has the effect of sharpening the transition, if it is continuous, but not of changing its order and the value of the exponent c, which is also robust with respect to inclusion of specific base-pair sequence heterogeneities.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2002

Reptation in the Rubinstein-Duke model: the influence of end-reptons dynamics

We investigate the Rubinstein-Duke model for polymer reptation by means of density-matrix renormalization group techniques both in absence and presence of a driving field. In the former case the renewal time τand the diffusion coefficient D are calculated for chains up to N=150 reptons and their scaling behavior in N is analyzed. Both quantities scale as powers of N: $τ\sim N^z$ and $D \sim 1/N^x$ with the asymptotic exponents z=3 and x=2, in agreement with the reptation theory. For an intermediate range of lengths, however, the data are well-fitted by some effective exponents whose values are quite sensitive to the dynamics of the end reptons. We find 2.7 <z< 3.3 and 1.8 <x< 2.1 for the range of parameters considered and we suggest how to influence the end reptons dynamics in order to bring out such a behavior. At finite and not too small driving field, we observe the onset of the so-called band inversion phenomenon according to which long polymers migrate faster than shorter ones as opposed to the small field dynamics. For chains in the range of 20 reptons we present detailed shapes of the reptating chain as function of the driving field and the end repton dynamics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2001

Disorder induced cross-over effects at quantum critical points

Critical properties of quantum spin chains with varying degrees of disorder are studied at zero temperature by analytical and extensive density matrix renormalization methods. Generally the phase diagram is found to contain three phases. The weak disorder regime, where the critical behavior is controlled by the fixed points of the pure system and the strong disorder regime, which is attracted by an infinite randomness fixed point, are separated by an intermediate disorder regime, where dynamical scaling is anisotropic and the static and dynamical exponents are disorder dependent.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2001

The generalized contact process with n absorbing states

We investigate the critical properties of a one dimensional stochastic lattice model with n (permutation symmetric) absorbing states. We analyze the cases with $n \leq 4$ by means of the non-hermitian density matrix renormalization group. For n=1 and n=2 we find that the model is respectively in the directed percolation and parity conserving universality class, consistent with previous studies. For n=3 and n=4, the model is in the active phase in the whole parameter space and the critical point is shifted to the limit of one infinite reaction rate. We show that in this limit the dynamics of the model can be mapped onto that of a zero temperature n-state Potts model. On the basis of our numerical and analytical results we conjecture that the model is in the same universality class for all $n \geq 3$ with exponents $z = ν_\|/ν_\perp = 2$, $ν_\perp = 1$ and $β= 1$. These exponents coincide with those of the multispecies (bosonic) branching annihilating random walks. For n=3 we also show that, upon breaking the symmetry to a lower one ($Z_2$), one gets a transition either in the directed percolation, or in the parity conserving class, depending on the choice of parameters.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Crossover behavior for long reptating polymers

We analyze the Rubinstein-Duke model for polymer reptation by means of density matrix renormalization techniques. We find a crossover behavior for a series of quantities as function of the polymer length. The crossover length may become very large if the mobility of end groups is small compared to that of the internal reptons. Our results offer an explanation to a controversy between theory, experiments and simulations on the leading and subleading scaling behavior of the polymer renewal time and diffusion constant.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Critical properties of the reaction - diffusion model 2A -> 3A, 2A ->0

The steady-state phase diagram of the one-dimensional reaction-diffusion model 2A -> 3A, 2A -> 0 is studied through the non-hermitian density matrix renormalization group. In the absence of single-particle diffusion the model reduces to the pair-contact process, which has a phase transition in the universality class of Directed Percolation (DP) and an infinite number of absorbing steady states. When single-particle diffusion is added, the number of absorbing steady states is reduced to two and the model does not show DP critical behaviour anymore. The exponents $θ=ν_{\|}/ν_{\perp}$ and $β/ν_{\perp}$ are calculated numerically. The value of $β/ν_{\perp}$ is close to the value of the Parity Conserving universality class, in spite of the absence of local conservation laws.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Zipping and collapse of diblock copolymers

Using exact enumeration methods and Monte Carlo simulations we study the phase diagram relative to the conformational transitions of a two dimensional diblock copolymer. The polymer is made of two homogeneous strands of monomers of different species which are joined to each other at one end. We find that depending on the values of the energy parameters in the model, there is either a first order collapse from a swollen to a compact phase of spiral type, or a continuous transition to an intermediate zipped phase followed by a first order collapse at lower temperatures. Critical exponents of the zipping transition are computed and their exact values are conjectured on the basis of a mapping onto percolation geometry, thanks to recent results on path-crossing probabilities.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2000

Equilibrium shapes and faceting for ionic crystals of body-centered-cubic type

A mean field theory is developed for the calculation of the surface free energy of the staggered BCSOS, (or six vertex) model as function of the surface orientation and of temperature. The model approximately describes surfaces of crystals with nearest neighbor attractions and next nearest neighbor repulsions. The mean field free energy is calculated by expressing the model in terms of interacting directed walks on a lattice. The resulting equilibrium shape is very rich with facet boundaries and boundaries between reconstructed and unreconstructed regions which can be either sharp (first order) or smooth (continuous). In addition there are tricritical points where a smooth boundary changes into a sharp one and triple points where three sharp boundaries meet. Finally our numerical results strongly suggest the existence of conical points, at which tangent planes of a finite range of orientations all intersect each other. The thermal evolution of the equilibrium shape in this model shows strong similarity to that seen experimentally for ionic crystals.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Critical Behavior of the Random Potts Chain

We study the critical behavior of the random q-state Potts quantum chain by density matrix renormalization techniques. Critical exponents are calculated by scaling analysis of finite lattice data of short chains ($L \leq 16$) averaging over all possible realizations of disorder configurations chosen according to a binary distribution. Our numerical results show that the critical properties of the model are independent of q in agreement with a renormalization group analysis of Senthil and Majumdar (Phys. Rev. Lett.{\bf 76}, 3001 (1996)). We show how an accurate analysis of moments of the distribution of magnetizations allows a precise determination of critical exponents, circumventing some problems related to binary disorder. Multiscaling properties of the model and dynamical correlation functions are also investigated.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1999

Density Matrix Renormalization Group and Reaction-Diffusion Processes

The density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) is applied to some one-dimensional reaction-diffusion models in the vicinity of and at their critical point. The stochastic time evolution for these models is given in terms of a non-symmetric ``quantum Hamiltonian'', which is diagonalized using the DMRG method for open chains of moderate lengths (up to about 60 sites). The numerical diagonalization methods for non-symmetric matrices are reviewed. Different choices for an appropriate density matrix in the non-symmetric DMRG are discussed. Accurate estimates of the steady-state critical points and exponents can then be found from finite-size scaling through standard finite-lattice extrapolation methods. This is exemplified by studying the leading relaxation time and the density profiles of diffusion-annihilation and of a branching-fusing model in the directed percolation universality class.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Boundary and Bulk Phase Transitions in the Two Dimensional Q > 4 State Potts Model

The surface and bulk properties of the two-dimensional Q > 4 state Potts model in the vicinity of the first order bulk transition point have been studied by exact calculations and by density matrix renormalization group techniques. For the surface transition the complete analytical solution of the problem is presented in the $Q \to \infty$ limit, including the critical and tricritical exponents, magnetization profiles and scaling functions. According to the accurate numerical results the universality class of the surface transition is independent of the value of Q > 4. For the bulk transition we have numerically calculated the latent heat and the magnetization discontinuity and we have shown that the correlation lengths in the ordered and in the disordered phases are identical at the transition point.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Anomalous corrections to the Kelvin equation at complete wetting

We consider an Ising model confined in an $L \times \infty$ geometry with identical surface fields at the boundaries. According to the Kelvin equation the bulk coexistence field scales as 1/L for large L; thermodynamics and scaling arguments predict higher order corrections of the type $1/L^2$ and $1/L^{5/3}$ at partial and complete wetting respectively. Our numerical results, obtained by density-matrix renormalization techniques for systems of widths up to L = 144, are in agreement with a $1/L^2$ correction in the partial wet regime. However at complete wetting we find a large range of surface fields and temperatures with a correction to scaling of type $1/L^{4/3}$. We show that this term is generated by a {\it thin} wetting layer whose free energy is dominated by the contacts with the wall. For $L$ sufficiently large we expect a crossover to a $1/L^{5/3}$ correction as predicted by the theory for a {\it thick} wetting layer. This crossover is indeed found in a solid-on-solid model which provides a simplified description of the wetting layer and allows the study of much larger systems than those available in a density-matrix renormalization calculation.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1998

Critical point shift in a fluid confined between opposing walls

The properties of a fluid, or Ising magnet, confined in a $L \times \infty$ geometry with opposing surface fields at the walls are studied by density matrix renormalization techniques. In particular we focus on the effect of gravity on the system, which is modeled by a bulk field whose strength varies linearly with the distance from the walls. It is well known that in the absence of gravity phase coexistence is restricted to temperatures below the wetting temperature. We find that gravity restores phase coexistence up to the bulk critical temperature, in agreement with previous mean field results. A detailed study of the scaling to the critical point, as $L \to \infty$, is performed. The temperature shift scales as $1/L^{y_T}$, while the gravitational constant scales as $1/L^{1+y_H}$, with $y_T$ and $y_H$ the bulk thermal and magnetic exponents respectively. For weak surface fields and $L$ not too large, we also observe a regime where the gravitational constant scales as $1/L^{1+y_H - Δ_1 y_T}$ ($Δ_1$ is the surface gap exponent) with a crossover, for sufficiently large $L$, to a scaling of type $1/L^{1+y_H}$.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv1997

Density Profiles, Casimir Amplitudes and Critical Exponents in the Two Dimensional Potts Model: A Density Matrix Renormalization Study

We use the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) to perform a detailed study of the critical properties of the two dimensional Q state Potts model, including the magnetization and energy-density profiles, bulk and surface critical exponents and the Casimir amplitudes. We apply symmetry breaking boundary conditions to a $L \times \infty$ strip and diagonalize the corresponding transfer matrix for a series of moderately large systems ($L \le 64$) by the DMRG method. The numerically very accurate finite lattice results are then extrapolated by efficient sequence extrapolation techniques. The critical density profiles and the Casimir amplitudes are found to follow precisely the conformal predictions for Q=2 and 3. Similarly, the bulk and surface critical exponents of the models are in very good agreement with the conformal and exact values: their accuracy has reached or even exceeded the accuracy of other available numerical methods. For the Q=4 model both the profiles and the critical exponents show strong logarithmic corrections, which are also studied.

cond-mat↗