Analytic theory of DNA condensation

TL;DR

This paper presents a new theoretical model for DNA condensation, analyzing phase transitions between whip and toroidal structures using path integral methods within a non-linear sigma model framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel analytical approach to DNA condensation, identifying classical configurations and phase transitions with stability and finite size considerations.

Findings

Identification of toroidal classical configurations

Phase transition from whip to toroid states

Analysis of stability and finite size effects

Abstract

We introduce a novel model for DNA condensation (whip-toroid transition) using the path integral method in the framework of the non-linear sigma model on a line segment. We show that some of its classical configurations exhibit toroidal forms, and the system has phase transitions from a whip to toroidal phases with a parameter $c=W/(2l) (L/(2\pi))^2$. We also discuss stability and finite size effect on these states.