POLYMER BRIDGING BETWEEN 2 PARALLEL PLATES

In this paper we study bridges formed by polymers between two parallel plates. We define two fundamental lengths, N and N, corresponding respectively to the length and the density of bridges. We develop methods to calculate these lengths for a single ideal long chain and for chains in a semidilute polymer solution. We note the formal mathematical analogy with the quantum tunneling problem and the opportunity to borrow techniques and results from there. We obtain analytic results in various limits, and we propose a blob picture to understand these results. © 1990, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.