Eur. Phys. J. E (2011) 34: 89
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2011-11089-4

Regular Article

Bethe-Peierls approximation for linear monodisperse polymers re-examined

Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Str. 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany

^* e-mail: semeriyanov@ipfdd.de

Received: 30 March 2011
Accepted: 6 July 2011
Published online: 22 September 2011

Abstract

Bethe-Peierls approximation, as it applies to the thermodynamics of polymer melts, is reviewed. We compare the computed configurational entropy of monodisperse linear polymer melt with Monte Carlo data available in the literature. An estimation of the configurational contribution to the total liquid’s C _p is presented. We also discuss the relation between the Kauzmann paradox and polymer semiflexibility.