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Future Perspectives: Moving to Longer Length and Time Scales, from Polymers to Biological Macromolecules

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Dynamics of Soft Matter

Part of the book series: Neutron Scattering Applications and Techniques ((NEUSCATT))

Abstract

The chapter starts by revising the basic ingredients of large-scale dynamics in polymers. The Rouse model and the reptation model are discussed, alluding to some of the limitations of the former, with regard to chain interactions that are neglected. Then the molecular foundations of rheology are addressed, in particular the contour length fluctuation (CLF) mechanism including chain retraction, which is the basis for the hierarchical relaxation in branched polymers. From simple polymers, the chapter moves to discuss the dynamics in systems of increasing complexity using three examples. The first relates to the dynamics of a soft interface in a polymeric mesophase, specifically to undulation dynamics of a lamellar phase. Then, the issue of confinement is discussed on the example of the random confinement that is created in a polymer blend with components of very different glass transition temperatures. In this case, the high T g component creates a random frozen matrix that confines the fast component. Finally, protein diffusion in polymeric gels is considered. In some way, this mimics the motion of proteins in crowded environments. The last part of the chapter discusses some novel developments regarding the large-scale dynamics in proteins, such as domain motion. These dynamics are shown to be crucial for biological function. The chapter ends with an extended outlook of the possible directions of neutron research in the field of macromolecular dynamics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Festkörperforschung, Forschungszentrum Jülich, D-52425, Jülich, Germany

    Dieter Richter

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  1. Dieter Richter
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Correspondence to Dieter Richter .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. ISIS Facility, CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, Oxon., OX11 0QX, United Kingdom

    Victoria García Sakai

  2. Fac. Science, Labo. Chimique Physique, Université Paris-Sud XI, Bat. 350, Orsay CX, 91405, France

    Christiane Alba-Simionesco

  3. Dept. Nuclear Science & Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts Avenue 77, Cambridge, 02139, Massachusetts, USA

    Sow-Hsin Chen

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Richter, D. (2012). Future Perspectives: Moving to Longer Length and Time Scales, from Polymers to Biological Macromolecules. In: García Sakai, V., Alba-Simionesco, C., Chen, SH. (eds) Dynamics of Soft Matter. Neutron Scattering Applications and Techniques. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0727-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0727-0_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0726-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0727-0

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