Slow plasmon modes in polymeric salt solutions

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Polymerforschung Postfach 3148 - D-55021 Mainz, Germany
² University Aboubakr Belkaid, Institute of Physics - BP 119, Tlemcen 13 000, Algeria
³ Institut Charles Sadron - 6 rue Boussingault, F-67083 Strasbourg, France
⁴ Laboratoire Européen Associé, ICS - 6 rue Boussingault, F-67083 Strasbourg, France

Corresponding author: vilgis@mpip-mainz.mpg.de

Received: 10 March 2000
Accepted: 28 July 2000

Abstract

The dynamics of polymeric salt solutions are presented. The salt consists of chains and , which are chemically different and interact with a Flory-interaction parameter χ, the chain ends carry a positive charge whereas the chain ends are modified by negative charges. The static structure factor shows a peak corresponding to a micro phase separation. At low momentum transfer, the interdiffusion mode is driven by electrostatics and is of the plasmon-type, but with an unusually low frequency, easily accessible by experiments. This is due to the polymer connectivity that introduces high friction and amplifies the charge scattering thus allowing for low charge densities. The interdiffusion mode shows a minimum (critical slowing-down) at finite k, when the interaction parameter increases we find then a low k frequency quasi-plateau.