Critical behavior of self-assembled rigid rods on triangular and honeycomb lattices

TL;DR

This study uses Monte Carlo simulations to analyze the critical behavior of self-assembled rigid rods on specific lattices, revealing a continuous isotropic-nematic transition belonging to the q=1 Potts universality class.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the critical behavior and universality class of self-assembled rods on triangular and honeycomb lattices through detailed simulation analysis.

Findings

The isotropic-nematic transition is continuous.

Critical exponents match the q=1 Potts universality class.

Binder cumulants support the universality class identification.

Abstract

Using Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling analysis, the critical behavior of self-assembled rigid rods on triangular and honeycomb lattices at intermediate density has been studied. The system is composed of monomers with two attractive (sticky) poles that, by decreasing temperature or increasing density, polymerize reversibly into chains with three allowed directions and, at the same time, undergo a continuous isotropic-nematic (IN) transition. The determination of the critical exponents, along with the behavior of Binder cumulants, indicate that the IN transition belongs to the q=1 Potts universality class.