Molecular dynamics simulation of polymer nanoparticle collisions: orbital angular momentum effects

The collisional dynamics of polymer nanoparticles is investigated using molecular dynamics, with a particular focus on angular momentum effects. Unlike zero impact parameter collisions discussed elsewhere, which are greatly weighted toward sticking collisions, the outcome of collisions with non-zero angular momentum show much greater variability, showing both reactive (where polymer chains are exchanged between particles) and purely scattering trajectories. In the case of inelastic scattering trajectories, the profile for translation to vibration energy transfer is calculated.