Anisotropic Random Networks of Semiflexible Polymers

dc.creatorBenetatos, Panayotis
dc.creatorZippelius, Annette
dc.date2007-06-04
dc.date2007-10-27
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T08:41:39Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T08:41:39Z
dc.descriptionMotivated by the organization of crosslinked cytoskeletal biopolymers, we present a semimicroscopic replica field theory for the formation of anisotropic random networks of semiflexible polymers. The networks are formed by introducing random permanent crosslinks which fix the orientations of the corresponding polymer segments to align with one another. Upon increasing the crosslink density, we obtain a continuous gelation transition from a fluid phase to a gel where a finite fraction of the system gets localized at random positions. For sufficiently stiff polymers, this positional localization is accompanied by a {\em continuous} isotropic-to-nematic (IN) transition occuring at the same crosslink density. As the polymer stiffness decreases, the IN transition becomes first order, shifts to a higher crosslink density, and is preceeded by an orientational glass (statistically isotropic amorphous solid) where the average polymer orientations freeze in random directions.
dc.description5 pages, 2 figures; final version with expanded discussion to appear in PRL
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0706.0508
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0706.0508
dc.identifierPRL 99, 198301 (2007)
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.198301
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/141740
dc.subjectSoft Condensed Matter
dc.subjectDisordered Systems and Neural Networks
dc.titleAnisotropic Random Networks of Semiflexible Polymers
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