Shapes of Semiflexible Polymer Rings

Abstract

The shape of semiflexible polymer rings is studied over their whole range of flexibility. Investigating the joint distribution of asphericity and nature of asphericity as well as their respective averages we find two distinct shape regimes depending on the flexibility of the polymer. For small perimeter to persistence length the fluctuating rings exhibit only planar, elliptical configurations. At higher flexibilities three dimensional, crumpled structures arise. Analytic calculations for tight polymer rings confirm an elliptical shape in the stiff regime.