Shape Phase Transition of Polyampholytes in Two Dimensions

Abstract

We have studied the transition in shape of two dimensional polyampholytes using Monte Carlo simulation. We observe that polymers with randomly charged monomers get into a globular shape at lower temperatures, provided that their total charge is below a critical value $Q_c$. Collapse into globular form happens for all forms of force law, but the critical charge depends on the form of the force law, inversely dependent on the range of interaction. The value of the critical charge is proportional to $N$, the size of the polymer, in the thermodynamic limit. PACS numbers: 36.20.-r, 35.20.Bm, 64.60.-i