SIMULATIONS OF FLEXIBLE MANIFOLDS

Monte Carlo simulations of flexible two-dimensional model membranes embedded in three space dimensions are reported. We explain in detail the techniques how to simulate fluid open membranes and fluid closed membranes (vesicles). It is shown that polymerized open membranes are rough and flat. Accordingly, the two larger components of the inertia tensor are proportional to the number of monomers of the surface, lambda(3) approximate to lambda(2) similar to N, whereas the smallest lambda(1) similar to N-0.65. Polymerized vesicles are isotropic and their mean square radius of gyration is R-2 - lambda(k) similar to N. In contrast, fluid membranes and vesicles exhibit crumpled shapes with lambda(k) similar to N-0.8 for k = 1,2,3. A monomer on a fluid surface exhibits a time-dependent mean squared displacement of r(2) (t) similar to t(0.8).