First-order theta-point of a single polymer chain

Original · EN

Conformational transitions of a single macromolecule of finite size N cannot be described within standard thermodynamic framework. Taking as a basis a simple model of homopolymer exhibiting a coil-globule transition, we show that a relevant approach is to describe the thermal equilibrium distribution Pₙ⁽β⁾(t) of some variable t characterizing the conformation. Although the mean order parameter exhibits a second-order behaviour in the infinite-size limit, the Θ-point arises from the coexistence of two distinct populations, associated with two well-separated peaks of Pₙ⁽β⁾(t) and identified respectively with a coil state and a globule state. Remarkably, this first-order feature increases with the size of the chain. It allows to describe the transition within a two-state model, well-suited to analyse experimental data.