Semiflexibility Highlights the Polymers' Topology: Monte Carlo Studies

Summary: In this article we analyze in how far semiflexible behavior enhances the differences in the properties of classes of polymers whose topological structure varies. We focus on three pairs of macromolecular classes: stars vs. chains, unknotted rings vs. rings with one knot (trefoils), and stars vs. unknotted rings. For this we determine the mean-square radii of gyration and the bond-bond correlation functions through Monte Carlo simulations which use the bond fluctuation model. We show that introducing semiflexibility magnifies the differences between experimentally measurable quantities and may even lead to qualitative changes. Our simulation results are supported by theoretical studies which make use of the maximum entropy principle.