Polymer dynamics: Long time simulations and topological constraints

Abstract

This contributiontried to introduce the reader to the current status of computer simulations for one central aspect of dense polymer systems, namely melt and network dynamics and relaxation. Over the years there has been significant progress in theory, simulation and experiments. This leads us to the situation, where the basic concepts are fairly well understood. We now can go on and study new phenomena. Especially simulations reach a stage, where they more and more are of predictive power with clear advantages to analytic theory but also experiment. It is probably safe to expect, that this kind of development will continue for the coming years. Thus we are a step closer to the aim of material characterization and design by intelligent simulation techniques.