Reversible stretching of homopolymers and random heteropolymers

Abstract

We have analyzed the equilibrium response of chain molecules to stretching. For a homogeneous sequence of monomers, the induced transition from compact globule to extended coil below the $\theta$-temperature is predicted to be sharp. For random sequences, however, the transition may be smoothed by a prevalence of necklace-like structures, in which globular regions and coil regions coexist in a single chain. As we show in the context of a random copolymer, preferential solvation of one monomer type lends stability to such structures. The range of stretching forces over which necklaces are stable is sensitive to chain length as well as sequence statistics.

14 pages, 4 figures

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