Inter-Chain Structure Factors of Flexible Polymers in Solutions: A Monte Carlo Investigation

Off-lattice Monte Carlo simulations of both the single chain structure factor h(q) and the inter-chain structure factor HD(q) of flexible polymers in solutions are presented over a wide range of both wavenumber q and concentration c from the dilute to the concentrated regime, for chain lengths up to N = 256. The single chain properties $\{$gyration radius 〈Rg2〉, $h(q)\}$ are in reasonable agreement with the expected theoretical behavior, showing a crossover from swollen chains $\{\langle R_{\rm g}^2\rangle \propto N^{2\nu} ,~ h(q) \propto q^{-1/\nu}\}$ to Gaussian chains, and the data comply with a scaling description, with a correlation length ξ∝c-ν/(3ν-1). However, the inter-chain structu…

Ising systems with pairwise competing surface fields

The magnetization distribution and phase behaviour of large but finite Ising simple cubic L × L × L lattices in d = 3 dimensions and square L × L lattices in d = 2 dimensions are studied for the case where four free boundaries are present, at which surface fields +Hs act on one pair of opposite boundaries while surface fields −Hs act on the other pair (in d = 3, periodic boundary conditions are used for the remaining pair). Both the distribution PL(m) of the global magnetization and also the distribution of the local magnetization m(x,z) are obtained by Monte Carlo simulations, where x and z denote the coordinates when the boundaries are oriented along the x-axis and z-axis (in d = 2); or a…

A new boundary-controlled phase transition: Phase separation in an Ising bi-pyramid with competing surface fields

We study phase coexistence of an Ising ferromagnet in a bi-pyramid geometry with a square basal plane of linear extension 2L + 1. Antisymmetric surface fields act on the pyramid surfaces above and below the basal plane. In the limit L → ∞, the magnetisation stays zero at the bulk critical temperature, but becomes discontinuously non-zero at the cone filling critical temperature associated with a single pyramid. Monte Carlo simulations and scaling considerations show that this transition is described by a Landau theory with size-dependent coefficients that give rise to singular critical amplitudes.

Monte Carlo Study of a Lattice Gas Model with Nonadditive Lateral Interactions

Anomalous Diffusion and Relaxation of Collapsed Polymer Chains

Time-dependent displacement of monomers and the centre-of-gravity motion of a polymer chain at various temperatures below the theta-temperature are studied by Monte Carlo simulation of an off-lattice model. While inner monomers diffuse Rouse-like, [ri(t) − ri(0)]2  t1/2, the centre of mass exhibits pronounced anomalous diffusion, [rc.m.(t) − rc.m.(0)]2  ta, where the exponent a seems to depend on temperature. The resulting anomalous dependence of the relaxation times on chain length is discussed in terms of scaling ideas. A possible relation to a glasslike freezing in of the collapsed globules is pointed out.

Structural properties of concave cylindrical brushes interacting with free chains

We present a self-consistent field theoretical study of the microstructure of concave cylindrical brushes as a function of the cylinder radius, grafting density, grafted chain length, and the solvent quality. We show that the results for the radial monomer density profile and the distribution of the free ends are in good agreement with the corresponding molecular dynamics results. Part of the investigation is focused on the conformational behavior of a free macromolecule in a cylindrical brush. A central result is the observed non-monotonous variation of the size of a free chain in a brush-coated tube when the tube radius is systematically changed. An interpretation of this behavior which d…

Observation of a tricritical wedge filling transition in the 3D Ising model

In this Letter we present evidences of the occurrence of a tricritical filling transition for an Ising model in a linear wedge. We perform Monte Carlo simulations in a double wedge where antisymmetric fields act at the top and bottom wedges, decorated with specific field acting only along the wegde axes. A finite-size scaling analysis of these simulations shows a novel critical phenomenon, which is distinct from the critical filling. We adapt to tricritical filling the phenomenological theory which successfully was applied to the finite-size analysis of the critical filling in this geometry, observing good agreement between the simulations and the theoretical predictions for tricritical fil…

Semidilute and Concentrated Polymer Solutions near Attractive Walls:  Dynamic Monte Carlo Simulation of Density and Pressure Profiles of a Coarse-Grained Model

Using a bead−spring model of flexible polymer chains, we study polymer adsorption from solutions onto attractive planar walls, varying both the strength of the adsorption potential e and the concentration of the solution over a wide range. Treating the case of good solvents, the profiles of density and pressure are computed and it is shown that thermal equilibrium between the adsorbed layer and the bulk solution is obtained. The case of a wall with purely repulsive potential under otherwise identical conditions is treated for comparison. It is shown that for the strongly adsorbing wall there is a pronounced layering, while a layered structure at the repulsive wall occurs only for high conce…

KINETICS OF POLYMER EJECTION FROM CAPSID CONFINEMENT: SCALING CONSIDERATIONS AND COMPUTER EXPERIMENT

We investigate the ejection dynamics of a flexible polymer chain out of confined environment by means of scaling considerations and Monte Carlo simulations. Situations of this kind arise in different physical contexts, including a flexible synthetic polymer partially confined in a nanopore and a viral genome partially ejected from its capsid. In the case of cylindric confinement the entropic driving force which pulls the chain out of the pore is argued to be constant once a few persistent lengths are out of the pore. We demonstrate that in this case the ejection dynamics follows a [Formula: see text]-law with elapsed time t. The mean ejection time τ depends nonmonotonically on chain length…

Momentum-dependent interfacial tension in polymer solutions

A model for the interface between a concentrated and a very dilute polymer solution is studied by Monte Carlo simulations at temperatures below the Theta temperature (in bad solvent conditions). The wave-number–dependent interfacial tension γ(q) is extracted from an analysis of the capillary wave amplitudes. It is shown that γ(q) decreases monotonically with q2, while no evidence is found for the predicted increase γ(q) ∝ κq2 with a positive bending rigidity κ of the interface at large q. Consequences for the interpretations of simulations and experiments on interfacial widths are briefly discussed.

Method for wettability characterization based on contact line pinning.

We demonstrate an efficient and reliable method for wettability characterization by determining the contact angle theta which a liquid-vapor interface makes with a solid wall. The purpose is to overcome the difficulties, related to the curvature of the liquid-vapor interface, which make measurements of theta rather uncertain, especially on the micro- and nanoscale. The method employs a specially designed slitlike channel in contact with a reservoir whereby the wettability of one of the slit walls is to be examined whereas the other (auxiliary) wall is separated by half into a lyophilic and a lyophobic part so as to pin the incoming fluid and fix the one end of the liquid-vapor interface. In…

Ejection of a Polymer Chain from a Nanopore: Theory and Computer Experiment

We consider the ejection dynamics of a flexible polymer chain out of confined environment. This situation arises in different physical contexts, including a flexible synthetic polymer partially confined in a nanopore and a viral genome partially ejected from its capsid. We describe the chain release from confinement both analytically and by means of dynamic Monte Carlo simulation. We find two distinct regimes of ejection dynamics depending on whether the chain is fully or partially confined. Partially confined chains are ejected from a pore of length L and diameter D after a typical time τ ∝ L2D5/3, regardless of their contour length N. The process is driven by a constant force f ≈ 5kBT/D a…