Eur. Phys. J. E 5, 149-160
Universality classes of self-avoiding fixed-connectivity membranes
M.J. Bowick1, A. Cacciuto1, G. Thorleifsson2 and A. Travesset11 Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244-1130, USA
2 deCODE Genetics, Lynghalsi 1, IS-110, Reykjavik, Iceland
bowick@physics.syr.edu
cacciuto@physics.syr.edu
thorleif@decode.is
alex@physics.syr.edu
(Received 23 June 2000 and Received in final form 25 October 2000)
Abstract
We present an analysis of extensive large-scale Monte Carlo
simulations of self-avoiding fixed-connectivity membranes
for sizes (number of faces) ranging from 512 to 17672 (triangular)
plaquettes. Self-avoidance is implemented via impenetrable
plaquettes. We simulate the impenetrable plaquette model in both three and four bulk
dimensions. In both cases we find the membrane to be flat for all
temperatures: the size exponent in three dimensions is
(Hausdorff dimension
dH=2.1(1)). The single flat phase appears, furthermore, to be
equivalent to the large bending rigidity phase of
non-self-avoiding
fixed-connectivity membranes -the roughness exponent in three
dimensions is
. This suggests that there is a unique universality class
for flat fixed-connectivity membranes without attractive interactions.
Finally, we address some theoretical and experimental
implications of our work.
87.16.Dg - Membranes, bilayers, and vesicles.
87.16.Ka - Filaments, microtubules, their networks, and supramolecular assemblies.
82.70.Uv - Surfactants, micellar solutions, vesicles, lamellae, amphiphilic systems (hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions).
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001
