Numerical insights into the phase diagram of p-atic membranes with spherical topology.
The properties of self-avoiding p-atic membranes restricted to spherical topology have been studied by Monte Carlo simulations of a triangulated random surface model. Spherically shaped p-atic membranes undergo a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition as expected with topology induced mutually repelling disclinations of the p-atic ordered phase. For flexible membranes the phase behaviour bears some resemblance to the spherically shaped case with a p-atic disordered crumpled phase and p-atic ordered, conformationally ordered (crinkled) phase separated by a KT-like transition with proliferation of disclinations. We confirm the proposed buckling of disclinations in the p-atic ordered phase, while the expected associated disordering (crumpling) transition at low bending rigidities is absent in the phase diagram.
MEMPHYS, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, 5230, Odense M, Denmark.
A G
AG
Hansen
Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 19104, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
N
N
Ramakrishnan
Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 600036, Chennai, India.
P B
PB
Sunil Kumar
MEMPHYS, Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark, 5230, Odense M, Denmark. ipsen@memphys.sdu.dk.
J H
JH
Ipsen
Soft Matter: Interfacial Phenomena and Nanostructured Surfaces