Force induced triple point for interacting polymers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the existence of a force-induced triple point in interacting polymers, revealing complex phase behavior and multicritical points across different models with potential implications for polymer physics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a force-induced triple point in polymer phase diagrams and compares three models, highlighting the unique intermediate phase in one model.

Findings

One model exhibits an intermediate phase with a triple point.

All models show two zero-force thermal phase transitions.

A general phase diagram with multicritical points is proposed.

Abstract

We show the existence of a force induced triple point in an interacting polymer problem that allows two zero-force thermal phase transitions. The phase diagrams for three different models of mutually attracting but self avoiding polymers are presented. One of these models has an intermediate phase and it shows a triple point but not the others. A general phase diagram with multicritical points in an extended parameter space is also discussed.