The flexibility of polyelectrolyte molecules

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Abstract
The electrostatic contribution to the persistence length of polyelectrolytes is calculated on the basis of the worm model and the Poisson–Boltzmann equation. An orthogonal but curvilinear coordinate system appropriate to a curved cylinder is defined, and the Poisson–Boltzmann equation and the electrostatic potential are expanded in inverse powers of the radius of curvature R. The coefficient of R−2 in the charging free energy gives the persistence length. Results are compared with Debye–Hückel calculations, condensation modifications, and the recent calculations on a toroid by Le Bret.

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