title: Influence of mixed and multivalent counterions in overcharging of DNA-like spherocylindrical macroions.
abstract: The influence of multivalent and mixed valency counterions on the ground-state energetics of overscreening of a core DNA-like model (sphero)cylindrical macroion is investigated using an earlier developed energy minimization numerical simulation algorithm. The effects of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetravalent counterions, and mixed valency (mono- plus di-) counterions are compared and contrasted. It is seen that the depth of the minimum in the excess ground-state energy (over the neutral reference state) versus the number of overcharging counterions increases as counterion valency changes from mono- to tetra- testifying to the efficiency of the overcharging process due to multivalent counterions. The influence of (i) the presence of mixed valency counterions and (ii) counterion size on the energetics is also investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00931-3343.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Mukherjee
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Bhuiyan
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry; D008956:Models, Chemical; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D004247:DNA