672 research outputs found
Dissimilar bouncy walkers
We consider the dynamics of a one-dimensional system consisting of dissimilar
hardcore interacting (bouncy) random walkers. The walkers' (diffusing
particles') friction constants xi_n, where n labels different bouncy walkers,
are drawn from a distribution rho(xi_n). We provide an approximate analytic
solution to this recent single-file problem by combining harmonization and
effective medium techniques. Two classes of systems are identified: when
rho(xi_n) is heavy-tailed, rho(xi_n)=A xi_n^(-1-\alpha) (0<alpha<1) for large
xi_n, we identify a new universality class in which density relaxations,
characterized by the dynamic structure factor S(Q,t), follows a Mittag-Leffler
relaxation, and the the mean square displacement of a tracer particle (MSD)
grows as t^delta with time t, where delta=alpha/(1+\alpha). If instead rho is
light-tailedsuch that the mean friction constant exist, S(Q,t) decays
exponentially and the MSD scales as t^(1/2). We also derive tracer particle
force response relations. All results are corroborated by simulations and
explained in a simplified model.Comment: 11 pages, to appear in Journal of Chemical Physic
Entropically driven transition to a liquid-crystalline polymer globule
A self-consistent-field theory (SCFT) in the grand canonical ensemble
formulation is used to study transitions in a helix-coil multiblock copolymer
globule. The helices are modeled as stiff rods. In addition to the established
coil-globule transition we show for the first time that, even without explicit
rod-rod alignment interaction, the system undergoes a transition to a nematic
liquid-crystalline (LC) globular state. The LC-globule formation is driven by
the hydrophobic helical segment attraction and the anisotropy of the globule
surface energy. The full phase diagram of the copolymer was calculated. It
discriminates between an open chain, amorphous globule and LC-globule. This
model provides a relatively simple example of the interplay between secondary
and tertiary structures in homopolypeptides. Moreover, it gives a simple
explanation for the formation of helix bundles in certain globular proteins.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Europhys. Let
Shape Imprinting Due to Variable Disulfide Bonds in Polyacrylamide Gels
Through the use of variable disulfide crosslinkers, we have created polyacrylamide gels whose shape can be altered after polymerization. N,N\u27-bisacryloylcystamine is incorporated as a crosslinker, along with a smaller amount of a permanent crosslinker. After polymerization, the disulfide bonds are cleaved into thiols through reduction. By reoxidizing the thiols with the gel held in a new macroscopic shape, a new set of disulfide bonds is formed, and the gel is forced to adopt the new shape. Retension of the new shape improves with greater distortion from the original shape, as well as with increased concentration of variable disulfide bonds. A simple theoretical model has been developed to explain these data, although the enigmatic kinetics of relaxation remain unexplained
Dynamic crossover scaling in polymer solutions
The crossover region in the phase diagram of polymer solutions, in the regime
above the overlap concentration, is explored by Brownian Dynamics simulations,
to map out the universal crossover scaling functions for the gyration radius
and the single-chain diffusion constant. Scaling considerations, our simulation
results, and recently reported data on the polymer contribution to the
viscosity obtained from rheological measurements on DNA systems, support the
assumption that there are simple relations between these functions, such that
they can be inferred from one another.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures, 1 Table. Revised version to appear in Physical
Review Letters. Includes supplemental material
Collapse of a semiflexible polymer in poor solvent
We investigate the dynamics and the pathways of the collapse of a single,
semiflexible polymer in a poor solvent via 3-D Brownian Dynamics simulations.
Earlier work indicates that the condensation of semiflexible polymers
generically proceeds via a cascade through metastable racquet-shaped,
long-lived intermediates towards the stable torus state. We investigate the
rate of decay of uncollapsed states, analyze the preferential pathways of
condensation, and describe likelihood and lifespan of the different metastable
states. The simulation are performed with a bead-stiff spring model with
excluded volume interaction and exponentially decaying attractive potential.
The semiflexible chain collapse is studied as functions of the three relevant
length scales of the phenomenon, i.e., the total chain length , the
persistence length and the condensation length , where is a measure of the attractive potential per unit
length. Two dimensionless ratios, and , suffice to describe
the decay rate of uncollapsed states, which appears to scale as . The condensation sequence is described in terms of the time series
of the well separated energy levels associated with each metastable collapsed
state. The collapsed states are described quantitatively through the spatial
correlation of tangent vectors along the chain. We also compare the results
obtained with a locally inextensible bead-rod chain and with a phantom
bead-spring model. Finally, we show preliminary results on the effects of
steady shear flow on the kinetics of collapse.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure
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