A. Siretskiy, C. Elvingson, P. N. Vorontsov-Velyaminov, “Stepwise conformation transitions for a semi-stiff ring polymer confined in a conical trap induced by the increasing external field or by cone's opening angle variation”, Nanosystems: Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, 2013, Volume 4, Issue 2,Pages <nobr>225

Stepwise conformation transitions for a semi-stiff ring polymer confined in a conical trap induced by the increasing external field or by cone's opening angle variation

A. Siretskiy^a, C. Elvingson^b, P. N. Vorontsov-Velyaminov^c

^a Dept. of Informational Technology, SE-751 05, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
^b Dept. of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry P.O. Box 523, SE-751 20, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
^c Dept. of Molecular Biophysical, Physical Faculty, 198504, Saint Petersburg University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Abstract: In this paper a stepwise compaction process of a ring semi-stiff polymer chain placed in a 3d conical nano-cavity and being under the action of the increasing external field is studied. Compaction from a circle-like shape to several toroidal-like loops for a three-dimensional system was observed. The thermodynamic stability of these toroidal-like structures was investigated by observing a hysteresis of the compaction-extension curves. This study extends our previous work [1] with investigation of the effect of the cone opening angle variation on the distinct shape transitions.

Keywords: semi-stiff ring polymers, Monte Carlo, compact structures, shape transitions, confinement, nanocone.

PACS: 05.10.Ln 05.20.Gg 87.15.A- 64.60.De

Language: English