Kosterlitz-Thouless and Manning Condensation

TL;DR

This paper compares the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in a 2D plasma with Manning condensation in polyelectrolytes, clarifying that they are distinct phenomena despite some similarities.

Contribution

It demonstrates that counterion condensation and the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition are fundamentally different, countering recent suggestions of their equivalence.

Findings

Counterion condensation and Kosterlitz-Thouless transition are distinct phenomena.

The comparison clarifies misconceptions in recent literature.

Theoretical analysis differentiates the two transitions.

Abstract

A comparison between the Kosterlitz-Thouless theory of metal insulator transition in a two dimensional plasma and a counterion condensation in a polyelectrolyte solution is made. It is demonstrated that, unlike some of the recent suggestions, the counterion condensation and the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition are distinct.