Thermal neutron spin-echo studies on dynamics of a glass-forming polymer in a high range

Kanaya, Toshiji*; Kakurai, Kazuhisa; Tsukushi, Itaru*; Inoue, Rintaro*; Watanabe, Hiroshi*; Nishi, Masakazu*; Nakajima, Kenji; Takemura, Kazuhiro*; Furuya, Hidemine*

Journal of the Physical Society of Japan, 74(12), p.3236 - 3240, 2005/12

https://doi.org/10.1143/JPSJ.74.3236

We performed thermal neutron spin echo measurements on a glass-forming polymer, deuterated polybutadiene (-[CD-CD=CD-CD]-; PB-d), in a high range up to 3.5 covering the first and second peaks of the structure factor S(), and evaluated the decay rate () of the coherent intermediate scattering function as a function of . In contrast to the previous experimental findings on the first peak of S() at = 1.5, no "de Gennes" type narrowing was observed on the second peak at = 2.9. This novel finding indicates that the narrowing is hidden by the distinct motions of the soft -CD-CD- and =CD-CD- units and the self-motions of the rigid and soft units in the range around the second peak.