Theoretical basis for the Rouse-Zimm model in polymer solution dynamics

Abstract

This article presents a generalization of some recent work by Bixon on the theoretical foundations of the Rouse-Zimm model in polymer solution dynamics. In particular, a procedure is described for constructing the ``best possible'' Rouse-Zimm model for an arbitrary polymer, starting from the equilibrium distribution of polymer conformations and using either Kirkwood's generalized diffusion dynamics or stochastic dynamics. The method is based on an application of linear response theory to the calculation of certain time correlation functions for polymer dynamics.