1302.5897 (Joan J. Cerdà et al.)

Phase diagram for a single flexible magnetic filament in a poor solvent
at zero field    [PDF]

Joan J. Cerdà, Pedro A. Sánchez, Christian Holm, Tomàs Sintes

The equilibrium conformations of a flexible permanent magnetic chain that consists of a sequence of linked magnetic colloidal nanoparticles with short-ranged attractive interactions are thoroughly analysed via Langevin dynamics simulations. A tentative phase diagram is presented in the limit of infinite dilution. We find that the phase diagram of such colloidal polymers exhibits several unusual conformational phases when compared with the non-magnetic chains. These are characterised by a large degree of conformational anisotropy: simple closed chains, helicoidal-like states, partially collapsed states, and very compact disordered states. The phase diagram shows several interesting features like the existence of at least two 'triple points'.

View original: http://arxiv.org/abs/1302.5897