title: Aggregation of rod-like polyelectrolyte chains in the presence of monovalent counterions.
abstract: Using molecular dynamics simulations, it is demonstrated that monovalent counterions can induce aggregation of similarly charged rod-like polyelectrolyte chains. The critical value of the linear charge density for aggregation is shown to be close to the critical value for the extended-collapsed transition of a single flexible polyelectrolyte chain, and decreases with increasing valency of the counterions. The potential of mean force along the center of mass reaction coordinate between two similarly charged rod-like polyelectrolytes is shown to develop an attractive well for large linear charge densities. In the attractive regime, the angular distribution of the condensed counterions is no longer isotropic.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Mathematical Sciences, C.I.T. Campus, Taramani, Chennai 600113, India. anoop@imsc.res.in
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varghese
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajesh
authors.forename: Satyavani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vemparala