(338e) Multiresolution Modeling of Polymers: Wavelet-Based Reconstruction

In contrast to multiscale methods, which often encompass multiple simulation techniques, multiresolution models use the same general modeling technique with representations of a system at varying length and time scales. We present work on a complete framework for modeling of semidilute polymer solutions, containing both coarse-graining and reconstruction steps. The coarse-graining approach is based on the wavelet-accelerated Monte Carlo (WAMC) method [1], which forms a hierarchy of resolutions to model polymers at length scales that cannot be reached via atomistic or even "standard" coarse-grained simulations. Using multiple stages of resolution, it is possible to simulate polymers of up to millions of repeat units in length. Although previously applied only to individual chain statistics [2], we show here how it can be extended to the study of polymer solutions. Bonded and non-bonded potentials between coarse-grained superatoms are computed. The non-bonded potential is computed using the same approach used previously in the study of single chains while the bonded potentials are computed using reverse Monte Carlo. A universal scaling function is obtained so that potentials do not need to be recomputed as the scale of the system is changed. To model polymer solutions, the intermolecular potential between the CG beads is assumed to be equal to the non-bonded potential, which is a reasonable approximation in case of semidilute systems. Using these potentials, various radial distribution functions are calculated from the coarse-grained representation at different resolutions, which compare favorably with the results from the atomistic simulations. We show that coarse-grained polymer solutions can reproduce results obtained from the simulations of the more detailed atomistic system to a reasonable degree of accuracy.
The reconstruction proceeds in much the same way: using probability distributions obtained from the coarse-graining procedure with respect to bond lengths, angles, and torsions, as well as the non-bonded potentials, we can reconstruct a more detailed version of the polymer that is consistent both with geometric constraints as well as energetic considerations. Using a quality estimator model for the reconstruction process, we can successfully “reverse map” entire atomistic configurations from coarse-grained descriptions. Applications for the reconstruction of atomistic models from united-atom models and detailed models from coarse-grained models will be shown, using both semidilute polymer solutions and self-assembled monolayers as test cases.