Off-lattice Brownian dynamics simulation of wormlike micelles: The dependence of the mean contour length on concentration

A new off-lattice Brownian dynamics simulation potential for wormlike micelles in the framework of equilibrium polymerization is proposed. The system reproduces the complete experimentally observed dependence of mean chain length 〈L〉 with concentration φ for uncharged species: a very slow dependence at very low φ, a 〈L〉∝Φ0.5 in the dilute and semidilute regime, and an enormous growth with concentration at high φ. Besides, it is shown that at high φ the longest chains are swollen by the smallest, suggesting a Russian dolls picture of the system.