title: Simulation of entangled polymer solutions.
abstract: We present a computer simulation of entangled polymer solutions at equilibrium. The chains repel each other via a soft Gaussian potential, appropriate for semi-dilute solutions at the scale of a correlation blob. The key innovation to suppress chain crossings is to use a pseudo-continuous model of a backbone which effectively leaves no gaps between consecutive points on the chain, unlike the usual bead-and-spring model. Our algorithm is sufficiently fast to observe the entangled regime using a standard desktop computer. The simulated structural and mechanical correlations are in fair agreement with the expected predictions for a semi-dilute solution of entangled chains.
authors: Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors: Airidas
authors: A
authors: Korolkovas
authors: Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors: Philipp
authors: P
authors: Gutfreund
authors: Institut Laue-Langevin, 71 rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Barrat