Nonequilibrium statistics of flexible macromolecules in dilute solutions. I. Macromolecular configuration

Abstract

For a macromolecule modeled as a Rouse chain in dilute solution, we give the exact nonequilibrium expression for the joint probability density for the configuration of any number of links of the chain, expressed in terms of the connector vector coordinates. From this expression we get the probability density for a single link and the joint probability density for two links. For these two functions we give the associated diffusion equations. We also give the length-independent probability density for the orientation of a single link. Finally we illustrate the application of these results in steady shear flow.