Supersymmetry solution for finitely extensible dumbbell model

Abstract

Exact relaxation times and eigenfunctions for a simple mechanical model of polymer dynamics are obtained using supersymmetry methods of quantum mechanics. The model includes the finite extensibility of the molecule and does not make use of the self-consistently averaging approximation. The finite extensibility reduces the relaxation times when compared to a linear force. The linear viscoelastic behaviour is obtained in the form of the ``generalized Maxwell model''. Using these results, a numerical integration scheme is proposed in the presence of a given flow kinematics.