Thomas Vogel
Institut für Theoretische Physik and Center for Theoretical Science
(NTZ), Universität Leipzig (Alemania)

Título: "Secondary structure formation of tubelike polymers".

Abstract:

The conformational phase diagram of a simple model for flexible 
polymers with explicit thickness is investigated by means of 
sophisticated Monte Carlo methods [1,2].
The thickness constraint, which is introduced geometrically via the 
global radius of curvature of a polymer conformation, accounts for the 
excluded volume of the polymer and induces cooperative effects 
supporting the formation of secondary structures [3].  The talk 
presents a detailed analysis of the temperature and thickness 
dependence of the conformational behavior for classes of short 
tubelike polymers, in which one finds that known secondary-structure 
segments like helices and turns, but also ringlike conformations and 
stiff rods are dominant intrinsic topologies governing the phase 
behavior of such cooperative tubelike objects. This shows that the
thickness constraint is indeed a fundamental physical parameter that  
allows for a classification of generic polymer classes.

[1] T. Vogel, T. Neuhaus, M. Bachmann, W.Janke, EPL 85, 10003 (2009)
[2] T. Vogel, T. Neuhaus, M. Bachmann, W.Janke, preprint
[3] J.R. Banavar, A. Maritan, Rev. Mod. Phys. 75, 23 (2003)