Calculating probability distributions for knot sizes and locations

ORAL

Abstract

We generate three dimensional random walks and loops with Monte Carlo simulations, and analyze them using various operational definitions of knot sizes and locations. We find that the size of a knot follows a power-law distribution with an exponent of approximately -1.5. As a consequence, knots in open chains are on the average larger when they are located close to the center.

Authors

  • Peter Virnau

    MIT

  • Yacov Kantor

    Tel Aviv University

  • Mehran Kardar

    MIT, Department of Physics, MIT