Statistical Analysis of the Influence of Interaction Ranges on Structural Phases of Flexible Polymers

We investigate the influence of the interaction range of non-bonded monomers in an elastic, flexible polymer upon formation of structural phases. Massively parallel replica-exchange simulations of a generic, coarse-grained polymer model enable the construction of the structural phase diagram by means of microcanonical statistical analysis. Multiple solid phases, a liquid phase, and a gas-like phase can be identified. We find evidence for finite-size effects that cause the crossover of “collapse” and “freezing” transitions for very short interaction ranges.