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Phase diagram and scaling behavior of fluid vesicles

Journal Article · · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States)
;  [1]
  1. Sektion Physik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen, Theresienstrasse 37, 80333 Muenchen (Germany) Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Minnesota Supercomputer Institute, University of Minnesota, 308 Harvard Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455 (United States)

The phase diagram and the scaling behavior of self-avoiding fluid vesicles as a function of the bending rigidity [kappa] and the pressure increment [Delta][ital p] is studied using Monte Carlo simulations and scaling arguments. For [Delta][ital p][gt]0, a line of first-order transitions is observed between a branched-polymer-like phase and an inflated phase. The scaling behavior in the inflated phase along this line seems to be characterized by a universal exponent [nu][congruent]0.8. The first-order line ends at small positive [Delta][ital p]; it extends to negative [Delta][ital p] as a line of compressibility maxima. For [Delta][ital p][lt]0, this line can be understood as a line of buckling transitions. For even more negative [Delta][ital p] and sufficiently large [kappa], stomatocytes are stable. We present evidence for the absence of a phase transition as a function of [kappa] at [Delta][ital p]=0 by showing that the volume [ital V] of a [ital N]-monomer vesicle scales as [l angle][ital V][r angle]=[ital N][sup 3/2][Theta][sub [ital V]]([radical][ital N] /[xi][sub [ital p]]), with a smooth scaling function [Theta][sub [ital V]]. The exponent [kappa] dependence of the persistence length [xi][sub [ital p]] is found to be in excellent agreement with renormalization group results.

OSTI ID:
7065174
Journal Information:
Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics; (United States) Vol. 51:1; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English