Writhe-induced knotting in a lattice polymer

We consider a simple lattice model of a topological phase transition in open polymers. To be precise, we study a model of self-avoiding walks on the simple cubic lattice tethered to a surface and weighted by an appropriately defined writhe. We also consider the effect of pulling the untethered end o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of physics. A, Mathematical and theoretical Mathematical and theoretical, 2015-02, Vol.48 (6), p.65002-14
Main Authors: Dagrosa, E, Owczarek, A L, Prellberg, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cubic lattice
Formations
knots
lattice polymers
Lattices
Mathematical models
Phase transformations
phase transitions
Topology
writhe
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Summary:We consider a simple lattice model of a topological phase transition in open polymers. To be precise, we study a model of self-avoiding walks on the simple cubic lattice tethered to a surface and weighted by an appropriately defined writhe. We also consider the effect of pulling the untethered end of the polymer from the surface. Regardless of the force we find a first-order phase transition which we argue is a consequence of increased knotting in the lattice polymer, rather than due to other effects such as the formation of plectonemes.
ISSN:1751-8113
1751-8121
DOI:10.1088/1751-8113/48/6/065002