Configurational statistics of the worm-like chain with limiting curvature (WCLC)

Abstract

Configurational properties of the worm-like chain with limiting curvature (WCLC), developed recently to investigate nematic systems of semiflexible polymers, are analyzed in detail. Employing this WCLC model, expressions for the characteristic ratio, the distribution of the end-to-end chain vector, and the persistence length are derived. Specific numerical results are obtained for polymethylene chains of finite length, and compared with the corresponding results of the rotational isomeric state theory and the classical Kratky-Porod worm-like chain. Orientational correlations of chain segments with chain vector and the temperature dependence of the internal energy are also derived and compared with the predictions of other chain models. © 1984 American Institute of Physics.