An Elementary Mode Coupling Theory of Random Heteropolymer Dynamics

TL;DR

This paper develops an elementary mode coupling theory to analyze the dynamics of random heteropolymers, predicting a discontinuous glass transition at a finite temperature that aligns with static replica theory estimates.

Contribution

It introduces a new mode coupling framework for heteropolymer dynamics, predicting a universal discontinuous transition not reported in previous studies.

Findings

Discontinuous ergodic-nonergodic transition at finite temperature T_A

T_A nearly independent of chain length for long chains

Agreement with static replica theory estimates

Abstract

The Langevin dynamics of a random heteropolymer and its dynamic glass transition are studied using elementary mode coupling theory. Contrary to recent reports using a similar framework, a discontinuous ergodic-nonergodic phase transition is predicted for all Rouse modes at a finite temperature T_A. For sufficiently long chains, T_A is almost independent of chain length and is in good agreement with the value previously estimated by a static replica theory.