SANS SPECTRA AND ELASTIC PLATEAU MODULUS IN A CHARGED WORMLIKE MICELLES SOLUTION - EFFECT OF SALT

We present S.A.N.S. and elastic plateau modulus data obtained from sem i-dilute wormlike micellar solutions, with small amounts of salt added . The spectra of these solutions are reminiscent of polyelectrolyte se mi-dilute solutions. The plateau modulus, which is related to the corr elation length of the fluctuations in strain, is increased by the addi tion of salt. The primary result is that the electrostatic interaction s induce short-range correlations in the structure of the semi- flexib le rod network, and this leads to a long-range correlation in the stra in fluctuations.