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Monte Carlo approach to the analysis of the rotational diffusion of wormlike chains
Author(s) -
Hagerman Paul J.,
Zimm Bruno H.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1981.360200709
Subject(s) - rotational diffusion , monte carlo method , radius , chemistry , anisotropy , relaxation (psychology) , cylinder , diffusion , persistence length , range (aeronautics) , observable , statistical physics , chain (unit) , molecular physics , physics , thermodynamics , geometry , optics , quantum mechanics , materials science , mathematics , polymer , statistics , psychology , social psychology , computer security , organic chemistry , computer science , composite material
A Monte Carlo analysis is presented which establishes a relationship between the rotational diffusion coefficients and the flexibility (persistence length, P ) of short, wormlike chains. The results of this analysis are presented in terms of experimentally observable quantities; namely, the rotational relaxation times for the field‐free decay of optical anisotropy. The pertinent theoretical quantity is R , defined as the ratio of the longest rotational relaxation time of a wormlike chain to the transverse rotational relaxation time of a rigid cylinder having the same axial length ( L ) and segmental volume. R , so defined, is essentially independent of the axial ratio of the cylinder for any value of L / P within the range of validity of the present analysis (axial ratio > 20; 0.1 < L / P < 5). It is pointed out that P can be determined with reasonable accuracy even in the absence of a precise knowledge of the local hydrodynamic radius of the chain.