Abstract
We investigated the folding transition between an elongated coil state and a compact state on a single polymer chain confined in a small space with different stiffness with the aid of Monte Carlo simulation. In a flexible polymer, the folding transition is retarded in a confined space. In contrast, the transition is promoted for a semiflexible chain, in which the discontinuity of the volume change occupied by a single chain is diminished by confinement. This unique confinement effect is interpreted in terms of conformational entropy and self-avoiding repulsive interaction.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 021924 |
Journal | Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics |
Volume | 84 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2011 Aug 22 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
- Statistics and Probability
- Condensed Matter Physics