Course Content

-- Random Walk models of polymer conformations

-- Gaussian chain

-- Self-avoiding walks and excluded-volume interaction

-- Scale invariance

-- Relation between self-avoiding walks and critical phenomena

-- Self-consistent field theory for polymers

-- Screening of excluded volume interactions

-- Flory-Huggins theory

-- Theta collapse

-- Blob concept

-- Generic phase diagram of polymer solutions

-- Rouse model

-- Zimm model

-- Hydrodynamic screening in semidilute solutions

-- Reptation model