Random First Order Transition Theory for Glassy Dynamics in a Single Condensed Polymer

Area of Science:

• Polymer physics
• Condensed matter physics
• Statistical mechanics

Background:

• The number of compact structures for single condensed polymers (SCPs) with similar free energies increases exponentially with polymerization degree.
• Structural glasses (SGs) are known to exhibit slow dynamics at low temperatures due to activated transitions between metastable states.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the low-temperature dynamics and phase transitions of single condensed polymers (SCPs).
• To establish analogies between the behavior of SCPs and structural glasses (SGs).

Main Methods:

• Simulating the evolution of SCP states linearly coupled to a reference state.
• Analyzing chain relaxation dynamics and configurational entropy.
• Investigating the temperature dependence of relaxation times.

Main Results:

• Below a dynamical transition temperature (Td), SCPs become trapped in metastable states, leading to slow dynamics.
• A thermodynamic random first-order ideal glass transition occurs at a lower temperature (TK ≠ 0) where configurational entropy vanishes.
• Relaxation times follow the Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman law, diverging at T0 ≈ TK.

Conclusions:

• Single condensed polymers (SCPs) exhibit universal characteristics similar to structural glasses (SGs).
• The study establishes a connection between polymer physics and the theory of random first-order transitions for glassy systems.