Search results for "Statistical physics"
showing 10 items of 1402 documents
Monte Carlo Simulations in Polymer Science
2012
Monte Carlo methods are useful for computing the statistical properties of both single macromolecules of various chemical architectures and systems containing many polymers (solutions, melts, blends, etc.). Starting with simple models (lattice models such as the self-avoiding walk or the bond fluctuation model, as well as coarse-grained or chemically realistic models in the continuum) various algorithms exist to generate conformations typical for thermal equilibrium, but dynamic Monte Carlo methods can also model diffusion and relaxation processes (as described by the Rouse and the reptation models for polymer melt dynamics). Limitations of the method are explained, and also the measures to…
Computer Simulations for Polymer Dynamics
1991
In this paper we review recent work on the dynamics of polymeric systems using computer simulation methods. For a two-dimensional polymer melt, we show that the chains segregate and the dynamics can be described very well by the Rouse model. This simulation was carried out using the bond fluctuation Monte Carlo method. For three-dimensional (3d) melts and for the study of hydrodynamic effects, we use a molecular dynamics simulation. For 3d melts our results strongly support the concept of reptation. A detailed comparison to experiment shows that we can predict the time and length scales for the onset of reptation for a variety of polymeric liquids. For a single chain, we find the expected h…
Monte Carlo Simulations of Growth Kinetics and Phase Transitions at Interfaces: Some Recent Results
1991
ABSTRACTIn the first part Monte Carlo studies of the kinetics of multilayer adsorption (without screening) are described. The approach to the jamming coverage in each layer is asymptotically exponential. The jamming coverages approach the infinite-layer limit value according to a power law. In the second part, studies of phase transitions in two dimensional fluids are reviewed. With a combination of Monte Carlo and finite size scaling block analysis techniques, accurate values are obtained for the critical temperatures, coexistence densities and the compressibilities of an adsorbed fluid layer in an NVT ensemble.
Isotropic–isotropic phase separation in mixtures of rods and spheres: Some aspects of Monte Carlo simulation in the grand canonical ensemble
2008
Abstract In this article we consider mixtures of non-adsorbing polymers and rod-like colloids in the isotropic phase, which upon the addition of polymers show an effective attraction via depletion forces. Above a certain concentration, the depletant causes phase separation of the mixture. We performed Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the phase boundaries of isotropic–isotropic coexistence. To determine the phase boundaries we simulated in the grand canonical ensemble using successive umbrella sampling [J. Chem. Phys. 120 (2004) 10925]. The location of the critical point was estimated by a finite size scaling analysis. In order to equilibrate the system efficiently, we used a cluster move…
The ensemble switch method for computing interfacial tensions
2015
We present a systematic thermodynamic integration approach to compute interfacial tensions for solid-liquid interfaces, which is based on the ensemble switch method. Applying Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling techniques, we obtain results for hard spheres, which are in agreement with previous computations. The case of solid-liquid interfaces in a variant of the effective Asakura-Oosawa model and of liquid-vapor interfaces in the Lennard-Jones model are discussed as well. We demonstrate that a thorough finite-size analysis of the simulation data is required to obtain precise results for the interfacial tension.
Entropy of glassy polymer melts: Comparison between Gibbs-DiMarzio theory and simulation.
1996
We calculate the free energy of a model for a polymer melt in a computer simulation of the bond-fluctuation model and determine the entropy of the melt over a wide range of temperatures, including the region close to the glass transition. The results are compared with the Gibbs-DiMarzio theory, a theory by Flory for semiflexible polymers, and a modification of their theories due to Milchev. We can describe the data within the framework of the Flory theory with Milchev's correction and discuss the consequences for the understanding of the glass transition. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Computer Simulations and Coarse-Grained Molecular Models Predicting the Equation of State of Polymer Solutions
2010
Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations are, in principle, powerful tools for carrying out the basic task of statistical thermodynamics, namely the prediction of macroscopic properties of matter from suitable models of effective interactions between atoms and molecules. The state of the art of this approach is reviewed, with an emphasis on solutions of rather short polymer chains (such as alkanes) in various solvents. Several methods of constructing coarse-grained models of the simple bead–spring type will be mentioned, using input either from atomistic models (considering polybutadiene as an example) or from experiment. Also, the need to have corresponding coarse-grained models of t…
SPATIAL MULTIFRACTALITY OF ELECTRONIC STATES AND THE METAL-INSULATOR TRANSITION IN DISORDERED SYSTEMS
1993
For the investigation of the spatial behavior of electronic wave functions in disordered systems, we employ the Anderson model of localization. The eigenstates of the corresponding Hamiltonian are calculated numerically by means of the Lanczos algorithm and are analyzed with respect to their spatial multifractal properties. We find that the wave functions show spatial multifractality for all parameter cases not too far away from the metal-insulator transition (MIT) which separates localized from extended states in this model. Exactly at the MIT, multifractality is expected to exist on all length scales larger than the lattice spacing. It is found that the corresponding singularity spectrum…
Entropy measures, entropy estimators, and their performance in quantifying complex dynamics: Effects of artifacts, nonstationarity, and long-range co…
2017
Entropy measures are widely applied to quantify the complexity of dynamical systems in diverse fields. However, the practical application of entropy methods is challenging, due to the variety of entropy measures and estimators and the complexity of real-world time series, including nonstationarities and long-range correlations (LRC). We conduct a systematic study on the performance, bias, and limitations of three basic measures (entropy, conditional entropy, information storage) and three traditionally used estimators (linear, kernel, nearest neighbor). We investigate the dependence of entropy measures on estimator- and process-specific parameters, and we show the effects of three types of …
Electron and proton conducting polymers: recent developments and prospects
2000
Abstract The most important topics of the rapidly developing field of conducting polymers are surveyed. Particular emphasis is laid on the problems of synthesis, structure, thermodynamics and kinetic behaviour of these systems. The relevant experiences, existing models and theories are outlined. Abundant examples of the growing applications are also discussed.