The randomly broken chain as a semiflexible macromolecular model. Computer simulation of statistical properties

At any repeating unit of the randomly broken chain model, the direction of the chain can either follow that of the preceding bond, or change at random. The contour-length dependence of the mean-squared end-to-end distance and radius of gyration, when expressed in terms of a persistance length, is found to be the same as that for worm-like chains. However, other moments of the end-to-end distance have a clearly distinct length dependence, as found by computer simulation. Due to the finite probability of a fully extended, straight conformation, the distribution function of the end-to-end distance has a peculiar sharp peak. The similarities and differences between this model and the worm-like chains are discussed.