Dynamical correlations in suspensions of charged rodlike macromolecules

Dynamical correlations of charged rodlike colloidal particles interacting via a Yukawa segment-segment potential are investigated using extensive Brownian dynamics computer simulations. The model and the parameters used in the simulations are particularly designed for aqueous suspensions of tobacco-mosaic viruses. Over a broad range of rod concentrations we calculate the translational long-time self-diffusion coefficient and study the orientational motion in the disordered phase. It is found that the relaxation of the orientational correlation has three different regimes: a diffusive short-time motion, another diffusive motion for intermediate times, and a nondiffusive long-time relaxation. Also dynamical correlations in the nematic phase and near the isotropic-nematic transition are calculated. The results are compared with experimental data. {} 1996 The American Physical Society.