The Statistical Mechanical Theory of Stiff Chains

Abstract

The statistical mechanical theory of stiff chains which can be represented by differentiable space curves is developed by the analogy of the path integral formulation in quantum mechanics. The second and fourth moments of end-to-end distance of the chain are calculated. The stretching and contraction of the chain are also taken into account. The Brownian motion of the stiff chain is discussed, and some statistical properties, especially the correlation function of random forces, are determined.