Aggregation of semiflexible polymers

In the following, we will discuss the aggregation of interacting semiflexible polymers by analyzing the order and hierarchy of subphase transitions that accompany the aggregation transition. 

Rather stiff semiflexible polymers are likely to behave like liquid crystals. In analogy to the heteropolymer case, the first-order-like aggregation transition of the complexes can be expected to be accompanied by strong system-size dependent surface effects. In consequence, polymer aggregation will also be a phase-coexistence process with entropy reduction [265]. 

Because of its unique perspective, we will explain the physical origin causing these differences by microcanonical analysis, which proves to be particnlarly suitable for this type of problem. 

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Thus the entropic phase separation barrier A /Jagg should survive in the thermodynamic limit, if the aggregation of semiflexible polymers is a first-order-like phase-separation process with coexistence of aggregates and Ifagments. 

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