Collapsed Polymers

Phase Transitions and Interactivity of Confined Polymers

The statistical mechanics, phase transitions, and boundary interactions of linear polymers under geometric constraints form the core of this work. By employing the pruned-enriched Rosenbluth method (PERM) to simulate these polymer systems, this work clarifies how physical confinement and surface properties affect critical behavior, chain conformations, and transport properties.

The Coil-Globule Transition at the Theta Point: Characterization of the coil-globule transition under physical constraint, where attractive interactions between monomers drive the conformational change at a geometry-dependent theta point. This research investigates the tricritical behavior of this transition and calculates how the theta temperature shifts when polymers are restricted inside narrow strips or on the surface of infinitely long cylinders.

"The coil-globule transition of confined polymers", J. Stat. Mech. p01007 (2005).

"Collapsed 2-Dimensional Polymers on a Cylinder", J. Phys. A: Math Gen. 35, L759 (2002).

Polymer Interactivity with Porous Interfaces: Analysis of a single flexible chain grafted to a barrier with pores to track its penetration behavior. This work evaluates the average number of membrane crossings, showing how the chain segments divide across the interface in good and theta solvents, and how they completely localize to one side under poor solvent conditions.