Polymer Chain Statistics

A freely jointed chain (FJC): N segments of length b, each with independent random orientation in 3D. The end-to-end distance obeys ⟨R²⟩ = Nb². With persistence length l_p, the worm-like chain (WLC) crossovers between rod (L≪l_p) and Gaussian coil (L≫l_p) regimes.

⟨R²⟩^½ (nm)
√(Nb²) theory
Contour L (nm)
WLC regime
Mean R (nm)