Duality mapping and unbinding transitions of semiflexible and directed polymers

Abstract

Directed polymers (strings) and semiflexible polymers (filaments) are one-dimensional objects governed by tension and bending energy, respectively. They undergo unbinding transitions in the presence of a short-range attractive potential. Using transfer matrix methods we establish a duality mapping for filaments and strings between the restricted partition sums in the absence and the presence of a short-range attraction. This allows us to obtain exact results for the critical exponents related to the unbinding transition, the transition point and transition order.