Phase transitions in multicomponent string model

¹ Instytut Fizyki Teoretycznej, Uniwersytet Warszawski 00-681 Warszawa, Hoża 69, Poland
² Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloid- und Grenzflächenforschung 14424 Potsdam, Germany

Received: 14 October 2003
Accepted: 19 January 2004

Abstract

We propose a one-dimensional model of a string decorated with adhesion molecules (stickers) to mimic multicomponent membranes in restricted geometries. The string is bounded by two parallel walls and it interacts with one of them by short-range attractive forces while the stickers are attracted by the other wall. The exact solution of the model in the case of infinite wall separation predicts both continuous and discontinuous transitions between phases characterised by low and high concentration of stickers on the string. Our model exhibits also coexistence of these two phases, similarly to models of multicomponent membranes.