Statistical mechanics of double-stranded semi-flexible polymers

Journal article

We study the statistical mechanics of double-stranded semi-flexible polymers using both analytical techniques and simulation. We find a transition at some finite temperature, from a type of short range order to a fundamentally different sort of short range order. In the high temperature regime, the 2-point correlation functions of the object are identical to worm-like chains, while in the low temperature regime they are different due to a twist structure. In the low temperature phase, the polymers develop a kink-rod structure which could clarify some recent puzzling experiments on actin.

Authors: Liverpool, T; Golestanian, R; Kremer, K

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 80
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 405
• Publication date: 1997-05-09
• DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.80.405
• EISSN: 1079-7114
• ISSN: 0031-9007
• Language: English
• Keywords: cond-mat.stat-mech; cond-mat.soft