Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.108, No.8, 3310-3312, 1998
The size of a polymer chain in an imperfect array of obstacles: Monte Carlo results
Using Monte Carlo simulations, we test the prediction [Sommer and Blumen, Phys. Rev. Lett. 79, 439 (1997)] that the radius-of-gyration of a polymer chain moving in a periodic array of obstacles should be a minimum when a few defects are present. Our results agree qualitatively with this prediction, but the excluded volume interactions greatly reduce the effect.