A MONTE-CARLO STUDY OF DIFFUSION IN LIVING POLYMERS

We report the first numeric experiments on diffusion in living polymer s (polymers that can break and recombine reversibly, and are character ized by an exponential molecular weight distribution). In the simulati on we use a modification of the bond fluctuation model which is known to reproduce the correct Rouse dynamics of polymer chains. The diffusi on coefficient D reveals a Rouse-type behaviour D proportional to 1/L, where L is the average chain length of the polydisperse system. We al so find a D proportional to exp[-V/2k(B)T] dependence on the bond ener gy V, whereas at constant temperature the diffusion coefficient turns out to be inversely proportional, D proportional to rho(-1), to the mo nomer density of the system rho in agreement with mean-field descripti on of living polymers.