Phase Transition with Non-Thermodynamic States in Reversible Polymerization

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dc.creatorBen-Naim, E.
dc.creatorKrapivsky, P. L.
dc.date2008-03-19
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-07T09:45:59Z
dc.date.available2026-07-07T09:45:59Z
dc.descriptionWe investigate a reversible polymerization process in which individual polymers aggregate and fragment at a rate proportional to their molecular weight. We find a nonequilibrium phase transition despite the fact that the dynamics are perfectly reversible. When the strength of the fragmentation process exceeds a critical threshold, the system reaches a thermodynamic steady state where the total number of polymers is proportional to the system size. The polymer length distribution has a sharp exponential tail in this case. When the strength of the fragmentation process falls below the critical threshold, the steady state becomes non-thermodynamic as the total number of polymers grows sub-linearly with the system size. Moreover, the length distribution has an algebraic tail and the characteristic exponent varies continuously with the fragmentation rate.
dc.description9 pages, 4 figures
dc.identifierhttps://arxiv.org/abs/0803.2875
dc.identifierhttp://arxiv.org/abs/0803.2875
dc.identifierPhys. Rev. E 77, 061132 (2008)
dc.identifierdoi:10.1103/PhysRevE.77.061132
dc.identifier.urihttp://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/163380
dc.subjectStatistical Mechanics
dc.subjectSoft Condensed Matter
dc.titlePhase Transition with Non-Thermodynamic States in Reversible Polymerization
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