The Monte Carlo method based on two-dimensional entropic sampling within the Wang–Landau (WL) algorithm is applied to simulation of a continuous model of a polyelectrolyte between membrane surfaces. Membranes are presented by parallel plane surfaces holding either fixed or mobile dipoles (representing lipid headgroups). A strongly charged polyion accompanied by neutralizing counterions is placed between the membranes. Periodic boundary conditions are imposed along X-and Y-axes. The volume of the main cell is varied during the simulation by shifting one of the surfaces along Z-axis. Within two-dimensional WL sampling algorithm we obtain joint density of states as a function of energy and volume in a single run. In order to increase efficiency of our calculations we introduce a number of modifications to the original WL-approach. Various properties of the system over wide temperature and volume or pressure ranges, i.e., conformational energy, heat capacity, and free energy, are obtained from the two-dimensional
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)496–509
JournalMacromolecular Theory and Simulations
Volume20
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

ID: 5507964