Optical and Other Electronic Properties of Polymers

Abstract

The properties of a polymer are related to the properties of its constituent groups and to its geometry. That is, relations between polymer wave functions and group wave functions are obtained. The equations generalize a result of Kirkwood to include the effect of time-average fields. The main assumption in the derivation is that no exchange of electrons between groups occurs. The usefulness of these wave functions is illustrated by expressions for the absorption coefficient, polarizability, optical rotation, dipole moment, and stability of a polymer.