Statics and dynamics of a single polymer chain confined in a tube

The static and nonequilibrium dynamic properties of a single linear chain c onfined in a cylindrical tube are studied by Monte Carlo simulations using a continuous model and by scaling calculations. Chain lengths from N = 30 t o 150 are considered. For the static results, our simulation data are consi stent with the scaling law proposed by de Gennes. That is, for thin tube, t he length of tube occupied by the chain scales as R-parallel to similar to ND-2/3 where D is the diameter of the tube. The nonequilibrium relaxation b ehavior of the chain, after the constraint is removed, is also studied. The relaxation time tau (parallel to) is derived by scaling analysis as tau (p arallel to) similar to (ND1/3)-D-2. This result is compared with our Monte Carlo data and is discussed in the light of scaling theories. (C) 2001 Amer ican Institute of Physics.