Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 46, Number 1, April I 1999
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 43 - 49 | |
Section | Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i1999-00560-3 | |
Published online | 01 September 2002 |
Localization transition of a random polymer at an interface
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307, USA
Received:
11
November
1998
Accepted:
21
January
1999
An analysis is presented of the phase transitions arising from the presence of a random heteropolymer (RHP) at a flat interface between two fluids whose physicochemical interactions with the different monomers comprising the chain differ from one another. We re-examine the analysis of Garel et al. (Europhys. Lett., 8 (1989) 9) to probe the low temperature adsorbed regime. Utilizing the Martin-Siggia-Rose formulation with Hartree approximation we derive the dynamical equations governing the correlation functions. The long-time limit of the dynamical equations indicate a possible ergodicity-breaking transition of the polymer, corresponding to the localization transition predicted in the above-quoted analysis. However, in contradiction to the analysis of Garel et al., we predict that this phenomenon occurs at a finite temperature. This result contrasts with the behavior that might be expected from studies of 1+1 Directed Polymer in Random Media (DPRM), and resembles the behavior of d+1 DPRM for d > 2. Our conclusions are corroborated by transfer matrix simulations.
PACS: 64.70.Pf – Glass transitions / 36.20.-r – Macromolecules and polymer molecules / 68.10.-m – Fluid surfaces and fluid-fluid interfaces
© EDP Sciences, 1999
Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.
Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.
Initial download of the metrics may take a while.