A model of compact polymers on a family of three-dimensional fractal lattices

Abstract

We study Hamiltonian walks (HWs) on the family of three-dimensional modified Sierpinski gasket fractals, as a model for compact polymers in nonhomogeneous media in three dimensions. Each member of this fractal family is labeled with an integer b ≥ 2. We apply an exact recursive method which allows for explicit enumeration of extremely long Hamiltonian walks of different types: closed and open, with end-points anywhere in the lattice, or with one or both ends fixed at the corner sites, as well as some Hamiltonian conformations consisting of two or three strands. Analyzing large sets of data obtained for b = 2, 3 and 4, we find that numbers ZN of Hamiltonian walks, on fractal lattice with N sites, for behave as ZN ∼ ωNμNσ. The leading term ωN is characterized by the value of the connectivity constant ω > 1, which depends on b, but not on the type of HW. In contrast to that, the stretched exponential term μNσ depends on the type of HW through the constant μ < 1, whereas the exponent σ is determined by b alone. For larger b values, using some general features of the applied recursive relations, without explicit enumeration of HWs, we argue that the asymptotical behavior of ZN should be the same, with σ = ln3/ln[b(b + 1)(b + 2)/6], valid for all b > 2. This differs from the formulae obtained recently for Hamiltonian walks on other fractal lattices, as well as from the formula expected for homogeneous lattices. We discuss the possible origins and implications of such a result. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.