Influence of the line stiffness on the critical properties of 2d domain walls and polymer systems

A recently developed efficient Monte-Carlo method is used to calculate the critical equilibrium properties of a 2-dimensional system of thermal loops (loop gas) in dependence of the line stiffness energys. With increasing s the critical temperatureT _c (defining an Ising-like behaviour fors<1)decreases monotonically toT _c =0 ats=1 (in units of the line energy). Fors>1,T _c increases monotonically withs and defines anon-universal critical behaviour. The critical line is calculated in a phase diagram (i) as aT _c -versus-s plot showing a dipT _c =0 ats=1 and (ii) in a concentration (c)-versus-s diagram, describing, alternatively, a dilute system of rough polymers. In the latter diagram the critical concentration decreases monotonically withs fors<1 and increases withs fors>1.