A MEAN-FIELD MODEL FOR SEMIFLEXIBLE CHAINS

We derive a mean-field model for a semiflexible chain using a function al integral approach. The resulting model satisfies the global constra int [u(2)(s)]=1 rather than the hard constraint that u(2)(s)=1 for all s. The function u(s) is the tangent vector partial derivative r/parti al derivative s, where r(s) represents the conformation of the chain a nd s is the are length. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.