Conformation-networks of two-dimensional lattice homopolymers

TL;DR

This paper investigates how different Monte Carlo move sets influence the folding kinetics of 2D lattice polymers by analyzing the geometry of their conformation-networks, revealing small-world characteristics and the significant impact of rigid rotation moves.

Contribution

It introduces a network-based analysis of lattice polymer folding, highlighting the effects of move sets on network properties and folding efficiency.

Findings

Rigid rotation drastically alters network geometry

Networks exhibit small-world properties

Rigid rotation reduces shortest path lengths

Abstract

The effect of different Monte Carlo move sets on the the folding kinetics of lattice polymer chains is studied from the geometry of the conformation-network. The networks have the characteristics of small- world. The Monte Carlo move, rigid rotation, has drastic effect on the geometric properties of the network. The move not only change the connections but also reduce greatly the shortest path length between conformations. The networks are as robust as random network.