Structural arrest in dense star polymer solutions

Abstract

The dynamics of star polymers has been investigated via extensive Molecular- and Brownian Dynamics simulations for a large range of functionality $f$ and packing fraction $η$. The calculated isodiffusivity curves display both minima and maxima as a function of $η$ and minima as a function of $f$. Simulation results are compared with theoretical predictions based on different approximations for the structure factor. In particular, the ideal glass transition line predicted by mode-coupling theory is shown to exactly track the isodiffusivity curves, offering a theoretical understanding for the observation of disordered arrested states in star polymer solutions.

4 pages, Revtex, to be published in PRL