Phase diagrams of confined square lattice links

Abstract

We study by Monte Carlo simulations and scaling analysis two models of pairs of confined and dense ring polymers in two dimensions. The pair of ring polymers are modelled by squared lattice polygons confined within a square cavity and they are placed in relation to each other to be either unlinked or linked in the plane. The observed rich phase diagrams of the two models reveal several equilibrium phases separated by first order and continuous phase boundaries whose critical nature depend on this reciprocal placements. We estimate numerically the critical exponents associated with the phase boundaries and with the multicritical points where first order and continuous phase boundaries meet.