Small-World Rouse Networks as models of cross-linked polymers

Abstract

We use the recently introduced small-world networks (SWN) to model cross-linked polymers, as an extension of the linear Rouse-chain. We study the SWN-dynamics under the influence of external forces. Our focus is on the structurally and thermally averaged SWN stretching, which we determine both numerically and analytically using a psudo-gap ansatz for the SWN-density of states. The SWN stretching is related to the probability of a random-walker to return to its origin on the SWN. We compare our results to the corresponding ones for Cayley trees.