Statistical mechanics of double-helical polymers
Soft Condensed Matter
2007-05-23 v1
Abstract
We introduce a simple geometric model for a double-stranded and double-helical polymer. We study the statistical mechanics of such polymers using both analytical techniques and simulation. Our model has a single energy-scale which determines both the bending and twisting rigidity of the polymer. The helix melts at a particular temperature T_c below which the chain has a helical structure and above which this structure is disordered. Under extension we find that for small forces, the behaviour is very similar to worm-like chain behaviour but becomes very different at higher forces.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0203561,
title = {Statistical mechanics of double-helical polymers},
author = {Alvise De Col and Tanniemola B. Liverpool},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0203561},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
4 pages, 6 figures