Kinetics of a homopolymer collapse: Beyond the Rouse–Zimm scaling

We present a phenomenological theory describing the self-similar coarsening stage in the collapse of a long flexible homopolymer chain in a dilute solution upon a sudden quench. The approach is based on the “necklace” picture of the collapsing chain being composed of clusters separated by strands as...

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Veröffentlicht in:The Journal of chemical physics 1998-05, Vol.108 (18), p.7917-7920
1. Verfasser: Klushin, L. I.
Format: Artikel
Sprache:eng
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Zusammenfassung:We present a phenomenological theory describing the self-similar coarsening stage in the collapse of a long flexible homopolymer chain in a dilute solution upon a sudden quench. The approach is based on the “necklace” picture of the collapsing chain being composed of clusters separated by strands as demonstrated by computer simulations. The model represents a special class in the cluster growth problem where aggregation is driven by tension in the connecting strands. The mean cluster size in the free-draining limit is predicted to grow with time as s(t)∼t6/7(1+ν) where ν is the exponent characterizing the initial conformation of the coil. The characteristic collapse time scales as τc∼N1+ν∼N1.6 in agreement with the Langevin dynamics simulations. Incorporation of hydrodynamic effects leads to τc∼N1/3+ν∼N0.93. For a realistic experimental situation the theory presented thus predicts a much faster collapse than suggested by self-consistent field calculations.
ISSN:0021-9606
1089-7690
DOI:10.1063/1.476229