Work

Equilibrium Shapes of Flat Knots

Year: 2002

Type: article

Abstract: We study the equilibrium shapes of prime and composite knots confined to two dimensions. Using scaling arguments we show that, due to self-avoiding effects, the topological details of prime knots are localized on a small portion of the larger ring polymer. Within this region, the original knot configuration can assume a hierarchy of contracted shapes, the dominating one given by just one small loop. This hierarchy is investigated in detail for the flat trefoil knot, and corroborated by Monte Carlo simulations.

Source: Physical Review Letters

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.88.188101

Authors: Ralf Metzler, Andreas Hanke, Paul G. Dommersnes, Yacov Kantor, Mehran Kardar

Institutions: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tel Aviv University, University of California, Santa Barbara, Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics

Language: English

Topic: Geometric and Algebraic Topology

Subfield: Geometry and Topology

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W2064891246

FWCI: 15.44

Cites: 38

Cited by: 101

Related to: 10