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Marshall FixmanUniversity Distinguished Professor 
Physical ChemistryTheoretical research is carried out in various areas of statistical mechanics, including polymer theory, phase transition theory, and kinetic theory. The topics of primary current interest are polyelectrolyte theory and polymer conformational relaxation rates. The polyelectrolyte problems include the fundamental theory of salt solutions in the presence of strong electric fields due to the polymer, the expansion of chain polymers due to electrostatic repulsion between different parts, and the response of polyelectrolyte solutions to time-dependent external fields. Certain biopolymers have a rigid and precisely known structure, and therefore present the most favorable opportunities for theoretical advancement.The conformational relaxation of chain-like polymers is studied through the complementary techniques of analytic theory and computer simulation. The analytic theory is required to derive simulation techniques, and to interpret experimental and computer results. The computer simulation serves roughly the same purpose as experiments, and guides the conceptual abstraction required in theoretical work. |