Quantization of energy and writhe in self-repelling knots
Détails
ID Serval
serval:BIB_447497EF5428
Type
Article: article d'un périodique ou d'un magazine.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Titre
Quantization of energy and writhe in self-repelling knots
Périodique
New Journal of Physics
ISSN
1367-2630
Statut éditorial
Publié
Date de publication
2002
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
4
Pages
20.1-20.11
Langue
anglais
Notes
Publication type : Article
Résumé
Probably the most natural energy functional to be considered for knotted strings is that given by electrostatic repulsion. In the absence of counter-charges, a charged, knotted string evolving along the energy gradient of electrostatic repulsion would progressively tighten its knotted domain into a point on a perfectly circular string. However, in the presence of charge screening self-repelling knotted strings can be stabilized. It is known that energy functionals in which repulsive forces between repelling charges grow inversely proportionally to the third or higher power of their relative distance stabilize self-repelling knots. Especially interesting is the case of the third power since the repulsive energy becomes scale invariant and does not change upon Mobius transformations (reflections in spheres) of knotted trajectories. We observe here that knots minimizing their repulsive Mobius energy show quantization of the energy and writhe (measure of chirality) within several tested families of knots.
Mots-clé
SHAPES, LINKS
Web of science
Open Access
Oui
Création de la notice
11/03/2010 11:59
Dernière modification de la notice
20/08/2019 14:48