Rotational Symmetry Breaking of Complex Polymeric Macromolecules

ORAL

Abstract

A generalized version of Flory mean-field theory, supported by numerical simulations, indicates that polymeric macromolecules in good solvent with branches and cycles can show a sequence of spontaneous rotational symmetry breaking transitions as a function of increasing strength of the self-repulsion (J. Kelly, A. Grosberg and R. Bruinsma, submitted to PRL). We present here the analysis of the effect of including thermal fuctuations in the mean-field theory on the nature of these transitions for specific polymeric structures.

–

Presenters

  • Justin Little

    Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles

Authors

  • Justin Little

    Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Robijn Bruinsma

    Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Alexander Grosberg

    Department of Physics, New York University, New York University