Abstract
Star chains composed of arms with uniform length were generated on a simple cubic lattice by the Monte Carlo method using the enrichment algorithm, which enabled us to obtain chains with total segment numbers (N) up to 1200. The number of arms (f) ranged from 2 to 24. The radius of gyration (〈S2〉1/2), the dimensionless intrinsic viscosity (E), and the hydrodynamic radius (RH) were evaluated as functions of f and N by averaging over more than 4000 samples. The calculations of E and RH were made according to Zimm's method. It was found that the radius expansion factor (αS) for star chains with long arms obeys the relation αS2 = 1.53z2/5, which is known for long flexible linear chains, where z is the excluded volume parameter. The ratios of 〈S2〉, E, and RH of star chains to those for linear chains were evaluated as functions of f. These ratios obtained and the Flory factors for the intrinsic viscosity and RH extrapolated to N-1/2 → 0 reproduced experimental data well.
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