A Monte Carlo study of diffusion in ''living polymers''

We report the first numeric experiments on diffusion in living polymers (polymers that can break and recombine reversibly, and are characterized by an exponential molecular weight distribution). In the simulation we use a modification of the bond fluctuation model which is known to reproduce the correct Rouse dynamics of polymer chains. The diffusion coefficient D reveals a Rouse-type behaviour D proportional to 1/L, where L is the average chain length of the polydisperse system. We also find a D proportional to exp[-V/2k(B)T] dependence on the bond energy V, whereas at constant temperature the diffusion coefficient turns out to be inversely proportional, D proportional to rho(-1), to the monomer density of the system rho in agreement with mean-field description of living polymers.