Theoretical Outline - The Rouse Model

We note that the resulting entropic force is particular to macromolecular systems, where the conformational entropy generates a force stabilizing the most favorable conformation. 

With the boundary conditions that the chain ends are free of forces, Eq. (13) is readily solved by cos-Fourier transformation, resulting in a spectrum of normal modes. Such solutions are similar, e.g. to the transverse vibrational modes of a linear chain except that relaxation motions are involved here instead of periodic vibrations. 

The mode index p counts the number of modes along the chain. A small mode number, e.g. p N, (15), is approximated by 

In contrast to normal diffusion, Ar2n does not grow linearly but with the square root of time. This may be considered the result of superimposing two random walks. The segment executes a random walk on the random walk given by the chain conformation. For the translational diffusion coefficient DR = kBT/ is obtained DR is inversely proportional to the number of friction-performing segments. 

The prerequisite for an experimental test of a molecular model by quasi-elastic neutron scattering is the calculation of the dynamic structure factors resulting from it. As outlined in Section 2 two different correlation functions may be determined by means of neutron scattering. In the case of coherent scattering, all partial waves emanating from different scattering centers are capable of interference the Fourier transform of the pair-correlation function is measured Eq. (4a). In contrast, incoherent scattering, where the interferences from partial waves of different scatterers are destructive, measures the self-correlation function [Eq. (4b)]. 

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