Shape Transformations and String Tension of Heterogeneous Membranes

Abstract

A triangulated surface with rigid plates is investigated as a model of heterogeneous membranes by using the canonical Monte Carlo simulation technique. The small rigid plates are included on the triangle surfaces as an analogue of heterogeneous components such as membrane proteins in membranes. The size of plate is negligible compared to the surface size in the thermodynamic limit. We assume three different densities for the total number of rigid plates. By fixing two rigid plates, which are separated by the distance L, on the surface, we calculate the string tension σ between these two terminal plates. We find that the dependence of σ on L is considerably different from that of the model without the plates. The implication of this result is intuitively discussed.