A Monte Carlo study of the influence of molecular flexibility on the phase diagram of a fused hard sphere model

作者：McBride C^*; Vega C

来源：Journal of Chemical Physics, 2002, 117(22): 10370-10379.

DOI：10.1063/1.1517604

A study of a rigid fully flexible fused hard sphere model [C. McBride, C. Vega, and L. G. MacDowell, Phys. Rev. E 64, 011703 (2001)] is extended to the smectic and solid branches of the phase diagram. Computer simulations have been performed for a completely rigid model composed of 15 fused hard spheres (15+0), a model of 15 fused hard spheres of which 2 monomers at one end of the model form a flexible tail (13+2), and a model consisting of 15 fused hard spheres with 5 monomers forming a flexible tail (10+5). For the 15+0 model the phase sequence isotropic-nematic-smectic A-columnar is found on compression, and the sequence solid-smectic A-nematic-isotropic on expansion. For the 13+2 model the phase sequence isotropic-nematic-smectic C is found on compression, and the sequence solid-smectic A-nematic-isotropic on expansion. For the 10+5 model the phase sequence isotropic-glass is found on compression. The expansion runs displayed the phase sequence solid-smectic A-isotropic. The introduction of flexibility was seen to stabilize the smectic A phase at the expense of the nematic phase.

• 出版日期2002-12-8