Journal of Chemical Physics, Vol.117, No.17, 8004-8007, 2002
Critical chain dynamics near the interdigitated-noninterdigitated chain configurational phase transition in decylammonium chloride
We have carried out a H-1 nuclear magnetic resonance line shape analysis near the irreversible interdigitated-to-noninterdigitated chain configurational phase transition in decylammonium chloride (C10H21NH3Cl), a model biomembrane. The splitting parameter corresponding to the nematic order of the hydrocarbon chain shows a two-dimensional Ising behavior and indicates a chain defect motion in addition to the chain reorientational motion. The origin of the low-frequency critical fluctuation is attributed to a critical slowing down of the collective gear-like reorientation of the rigid hydrocarbon chain.