Universität Wien

260078 VU Theory of Polymers (2021S)

3.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 26 - Physik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 09.03. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 16.03. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 23.03. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 13.04. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 20.04. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 27.04. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 04.05. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 11.05. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 18.05. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 01.06. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 08.06. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 15.06. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital
  • Tuesday 22.06. 14:45 - 16:15 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This is a graduate level theoretical course on the rich Physics of the structure, self-organization and dynamics of macromolecular systems. The combination of connectivity, molecular flexibility and thermal motion gives rise to properties unique to polymeric systems, which require the development of novel theoretical techniques. We will cover some of the celebrated theoretical achievements to treat polymeric systems (Flory- and Flory-Huggins theories, scaling theory, the Edwards model, Rouse- and Zimm-dynamics, polymer entanglements) but towards the end of the course will also extend our attention to some open, current problems such as the properties of ring polymers, DNA and chromatin.

The course is suited for Master’s students with an interest in expanding their knowledge into macromolecular science, a vibrant field of interdisciplinary research not usually covered in conventional Physics Curricula.

Course content:
- The ideal polymer chain
- Polymer chains with excluded volume interactions
- Connection of polymer physics with critical phenomena
- Thermodynamics of mixing
- Concentrated polymer solutions
- Scaling theory
- Polymer dynamics
- Charged polymers: DNA and polyelectrolytes
- Polymer theory meets topology: ring polymers
- Chromatin organization

Methods:
Weekly lectures with active participation of the students. Additional ungraded homeworks and topical papers to read will be assigned.

Assessment and permitted materials

The assessment will be done based on one graded homework and a final presentation of a scientific paper from polymer topic in front of the colleagues during the last lecture. The graded homework will be assigned after about half of the semester and the presentation paper will be chosen by the student from a given selection.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirement: Active participation in the regular lecture meetings submission of the graded homework and a final presentation of sufficient quality and depth of understanding.

Examination topics

Topic of the presentation paper.

Reading list

Books:
1. M. Rubinstein, R. Colby, Polymer Physics, 2003
2. M. Doi, S. Edwards, The theory of polymer dynamics, 1986
3. A. Grosberg, A. Khokhlov, Statistical Physics of Macromolecules, 2002
4. P-G. deGennes, Scaling Concepts in Polymer Physics, 1979
Papers:
1. Wang, Macromolecules 2017, 50, 23, 9073–9114
Other papers on specific topics will be cited during the lectures

Association in the course directory

M-ERG

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:21