Eur. Phys. J. E 8, 3-14 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10007-3
The electrostatic persistence length of polymers beyond the OSF limit
R. Everaers1, A. Milchev1, 2 and V. Yamakov1, 21 Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung, Postfach 3148, D-55021 Mainz, Germany
2 Institute for Physical Chemistry, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, G. Bonchev Street, Block 11, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
everaers@mpip-mainz.mpg.de
(Received 12 February 2002)
Abstract
We use large-scale Monte Carlo simulations to test scaling
theories for the electrostatic persistence length
of isolated,
uniformly charged polymers with Debye-Hückel intrachain interactions in the
limit where the screening length
exceeds the intrinsic
persistence length of the chains. Our simulations cover a
significantly larger part of the parameter space than previous
studies. We observe no significant deviations from the prediction
by Khokhlov and Khachaturian which is based
on applying the Odijk-Skolnick-Fixman theories of electrostatic
bending rigidity and electrostatically excluded volume to the
stretched de Gennes-Pincus-Velasco-Brochard polyelectrolyte blob
chain. A linear or sublinear dependence of the persistence length on
the screening length can be ruled out. We show that previous results
pointing into this direction are due to a combination of excluded-volume
and finite chain length effects. The paper emphasizes the
role of scaling arguments in the development of useful
representations for experimental and simulation data.
64.60.-i - General studies of phase transitions.
36.20.-r - Macromolecules and polymer molecules.
87.15.By - Structure and bonding.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002