Equilibrium Polymerization as a Critical Phenomenon

Abstract

Equilibrium polymerization can be described by the $n\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$ limit of the $n$-vector model of magnetism in a small magnetic field. Nonclassical critical effects are predicted. The earlier theory of Tobolsky and Eisenberg is a mean-field approximation to the present theory. An application is made to the polymerization in sulfur.