| Numéro |
J. Phys. I France
Volume 3, Numéro 8, August 1993
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 1741 - 1754 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jp1:1993213 | |
J. Phys. I France 3 (1993) 1741-1754
Molecular dynamics simulations of the structure of closed tethered membranes
Irena B. Petsche1 and Gaxy S. Grest21 Exxon Engineering Technology Department, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, NJ 07932, Florham Park, U.S.A.
2 Corporate Research Science Laboratories, Exxon Research and Engineering Company, NJ 08801, Annandale, U.S.A.
(Received 5 February 1993, accepted in final form 13 April 1993)
Abstract
The equilibrium structure of closed self-avoiding tethered vesicles are investigated by molecular dynamics simulations. To
allow for local flexibility, the vesicles are constructed by connecting lineax chains of
n monomers to form a closed membrane. For all
n studied,
, we find that the membranes remain flat. The height fluctuations
, where
= 0.55
0.02 and
N is the total number of monomers in the vesicle. This result for
is significantly lower than earlier estimates for open membranes with a free perimeter but is in agreement with recent estimates
of Abraham for membranes without a free perimeter. Results for the static structure factor,
S(q), are calculated and compared to recent data on red blood cell skeletons.
© Les Editions de Physique 1993