Two-dimensional Copolymers and Multifractality: Comparing Perturbative Expansions, MC Simulations, and Exact Results

We analyze the scaling laws for a set of two different species of long flexible polymer chains joined together at one of their extremities (copolymer stars) in space dimension D=2. We use a formerly constructed field-theoretic description and compare our perturbative results for the scaling exponents with recent conjectures for exact conformal scaling dimensions derived by a conformal invariance technique in the context of D=2 quantum gravity. A simple MC simulation brings about reasonable agreement with both approaches. We analyse the remarkable multifractal properties of the spectrum of scaling exponents.Comment: 5 page

Fractal transit networks: self-avoiding walks and L\'evy flights

Using data on the Berlin public transport network, the present study extends previous observations of fractality within public transport routes by showing that also the distribution of inter-station distances along routes displays non-trivial power law behaviour. This indicates that the routes may in part also be described as L\'evy-flights. The latter property may result from the fact that the routes are planned to adapt to fluctuating demand densities throughout the served area. We also relate this to optimization properties of L\'evy flights.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, style files included. Submitted to the topical issue 'From Brownian motion to self-avoiding walks and L\'evy flights' of the journal 'EPJ - Special Topics

Disorder effects on the static scattering function of star branched polymers

We present an analysis of the impact of structural disorder on the static scattering function of f-armed star branched polymers in d dimensions. To this end, we consider the model of a star polymer immersed in a good solvent in the presence of structural defects, correlated at large distances r according to a power law \sim r^{-a}. In particular, we are interested in the ratio g(f) of the radii of gyration of star and linear polymers of the same molecular weight, which is a universal experimentally measurable quantity. We apply a direct polymer renormalization approach and evaluate the results within the double \varepsilon=4-d, \delta=4-a-expansion. We find an increase of g(f) with an increasing \delta. Therefore, an increase of disorder correlations leads to an increase of the size measure of a star relative to linear polymers of the same molecular weight.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figure

Scaling in public transport networks

We analyse the statistical properties of public transport networks. These networks are defined by a set of public transport routes (bus lines) and the stations serviced by these. For larger networks these appear to possess a scale-free structure, as it is demonstrated e.g. by the Zipf law distribution of the number of routes servicing a given station or for the distribution of the number of stations which can be visited from the chosen one without changing the means of transport. Moreover, a rather particular feature of the public transport network is that many routes service common subsets of stations. We discuss the possibility of new scaling laws that govern intrinsic features of such subsets.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Shapes of macromolecules in good solvents: field theoretical renormalization group approach

In this paper, we show how the method of field theoretical renormalization group may be used to analyze universal shape properties of long polymer chains in porous environment. So far such analytical calculations were primarily focussed on the scaling exponents that govern conformational properties of polymer macromolecules. However, there are other observables that along with the scaling exponents are universal (i.e. independent of the chemical structure of macromolecules and of the solvent) and may be analyzed within the renormalization group approach. Here, we address the question of shape which is acquired by the long flexible polymer macromolecule when it is immersed in a solvent in the presence of a porous environment. This question is of relevance for understanding of the behavior of macromolecules in colloidal solutions, near microporous membranes, and in cellular environment. To this end, we consider a previously suggested model of polymers in d-dimensions [V. Blavats'ka, C. von Ferber, Yu. Holovatch, Phys. Rev. E, 2001, 64, 041102] in an environment with structural obstacles, characterized by a pair correlation function h(r), that decays with distance r according to a power law: h(r) \sim r-a. We apply the field-theoretical renormalization group approach and estimate the size ratio / and the asphericity ratio \hat{A}_d up to the first order of a double \epsilon=4-d, \delta=4-a expansion.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure

Shape characteristics of the aggregates formed by amphiphilic stars in water: dissipative particle dynamics study

We study the effect of the molecular architecture of amphiphilic star polymers on the shape of aggregates they form in water. Both solute and solvent are considered at a coarse-grained level by means of dissipative particle dynamics simulations. Four different molecular architectures are considered: the miktoarm star, two different diblock stars and a group of linear diblock copolymers, all of the same composition and molecular weight. Aggregation is started from a closely packed bunch of $N_{\text a}$ molecules immersed into water. In most cases, a single aggregate is observed as a result of equilibration, and its shape characteristics are studied depending on the aggregation number $N_{\text a}$. Four types of aggregate shape are observed: spherical, rod-like and disc-like micelle and a spherical vesicle. We estimate "phase boundaries" between these shapes depending on the molecular architecture. Sharp transitions between aspherical micelle and a vesicle are found in most cases. The pretransition region shows large amplitude oscillations of the shape characteristics with the oscillation frequency strongly dependent on the molecular architecture.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Unbinding of mutually avoiding random walks and two dimensional quantum gravity

We analyze the unbinding transition for a two dimensional lattice polymer in which the constituent strands are mutually avoiding random walks. At low temperatures the strands are bound and form a single self-avoiding walk. We show that unbinding in this model is a strong first order transition. The entropic exponents associated to denaturated loops and end-segments distributions show sharp differences at the transition point and in the high temperature phase. Their values can be deduced from some exact arguments relying on a conformal mapping of copolymer networks into a fluctuating geometry, i.e. in the presence of quantum gravity. An excellent agreement between analytical and numerical estimates is observed for all cases analized.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figures, revtex