Selected issues on computational techniques

In this section are briefly reviewed some technical problems of the simulation of dense many-chain systems, such as the sampling of intensive variables such as chemical potential, pressure etc., but also entropy, which are not straightforward to obtain as averages of simple quantities. Some of the standard recipes developed for computer simulation of condensed phases in general have difficulties here, due to the fact that the primary unit, the polymer chain, is already a large object and not a point particle. But knowledge of quantities such as the chemical potentials are necessary, e.g., for a study of phase equilibria in polymer solutions.  

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We have surveyed the state-of-the-art and speculated about the fitture developments of dynamic computer simulation, as applied to polymer science. Ihough it is impossible to achieve completeness in any general survey of this sort, our intent has been to focus on examples that illustrate the principal issues involved, with emphasis on recent achievements. Physical concepts, simulation techniques, and applications of dynamic computer simulation have been discussed. These issues are only a partial selection from a wide range. 

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