SEMIFLEXIBLE PLANAR POLYMERIC LOOPS

Two-dimensional polymeric loops of N hard disk monomers are subject to a bending rigidity kappa. The mean square radius of gyration <R(G)2>, mean area <A>, shape parameter SIGMA = <R(Gmin)2>/<R(Gmax)2>, and specific heat are studied as a function of N and kappa. Scaling behavior is governed by the combination y approximately N/kappa when N, kappa --> infinity. In the rigid limit, y --> 0, <R(G)2> scales as N2 and 1-SIGMA varies as y-psi with psi = 1/2. Conversely, in the soft limit, y --> infinity, <R(G)2> scales as y-omega with omega = 2(1 - nu) = 1/2 and SIGMA --> 0.39. The scaling domain is extended beyond the soft limit by using a nonlinear scaling field incorporating an effective rigidity kappa approximately (kappa).