520024 VU Polymer Theory (2025W)

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 active (living) polymers, ring polymers, DNA and chromatin.

The course is suited for Doctoral/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
- Polymer Viscoelasticity
- Polymer Computer Simulations
- Charged polymers: DNA and polyelectrolytes
- Active polymers (natural and artificial)
- Polymer theory meets topology: ring polymers
- Chromatin organization

There are three main aims of the course:
1) To understand basic theoretical polymer concepts and methods
2) To understand the connections to other fields in Physics, in particular the critical phenomena.
3) To understand some of the contemporary problems in Polymer Physics.

Methods:
Weekly lectures with active participation of the students. Additional ungraded homeworks and topical papers to read will be assigned. In the end of the course, students will select a contemporary research polymer paper to study and present to their colleagues.