Internal correlations of a single polymer chain

Abstract

We calculate to one loop order the correlations of two segments labelled n1 and n1 + n in a self interacting polymer chain of length n1 + n + n3. The second moment and the first inverse moment of the structure function are analysed in detail. Results of extensive Monte Carlo calculations for these quantities are presented in the form of scaling functions depending on n 1/n, n3/n. These functions become universal in the excluded volume limit. Numerical and analytical results are found to agree well. Our results allow for a detailed check of the blob hypothesis commonly used to explain the difference in the swelling of the hydrodynamic radius RH as compared to the radius of gyration R G. We find that the blob model is not valid, due to the neglect of important end effects. Our Monte Carlo calculations point to short range stiffness as source of the experimentally observed difference between R H and RG