Partitioning of a polymer chain between two confining cavities: the roles of excluded volume and finite size conduits

Lattice-field calculations are performed on a Gaussian polymer chain confin ed to move within the region defined by two fused spheres. The results of t he calculations are in accord with recent experimental measurements and com puter simulations, and suggest that current theoretical understanding of po lymer partitioning phenomena is inadequate when excluded volume interaction s between the monomers are present. It is also shown that the notion of gro und state dominance can fail even in the large monomer limit. (C) 2000 Else vier Science B.V. All rights reserved.