Spontaneous formation of helical states in polymer chains via molecular dynamics simulation

Abstract

Molecular process of polymer collapse was reproduced by isothermal molecular dynamics simulation. The initial polymer chains were obtained by mean of random walks in continuum space. Two potential models were considered to represent short range interactions between monomers. Various structural properties during the collapse of the polymer were measured and different collapse pathways were observed. For low temperatures, we have obtained a spontaneous collapse to helical states.