| Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 58, Number 2, April 2002
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 292 - 298 | |
| Section | Interdisciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2002-00636-0 | |
| Published online | 01 August 2002 | |
Exactly solved polymer models with conformational escape transitions of a coil-to-flower type
1
Chemical Pharmaceutical Academy - Prof. Popova 14, 197022, St.
Petersburg, Russia
2
Institute of Macromolecular Compounds of the Russian Academy of
Sciences Bolshoy prospect 31, 199004, St. Petersburg, Russia
3
Laboratory of Physical Chemistry and Colloid Science,
Wageningen University Dreijenplein 6, 6703 HB Wageningen,
The Netherlands
Received:
8
November
2001
Accepted:
31
January
2002
We analyze exact analytical partition functions for Gaussian chains near surfaces and interfaces. These partition functions contain the possibility of conformational first-order phase transitions. Such transitions occur when chains are tethered in space and exposed to a local perturbing field. Then the chain can partially escape from the field: the chain transforms from the confined coil to an inhomogeneous flower conformation. The flower consists of a strongly stretched stem and a very weakly deformed crown. A generic phase diagram including one binodal and two spinodal lines is found for three related systems. The height of the barrier between stable and metastable states as well as the dynamics of barrier crossings is discussed.
PACS: 82.35.Gh – Polymers on surfaces; adhesion / 05.70.Fh – Phase transitions: general studies / 33.15.Hp – Barrier heights (internal rotation, inversion, rotational isomerism, conformational dynamics)
© EDP Sciences, 2002
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.