Short-time dynamics and statics of free and confined tethered membranes

(Received 1 February 1994, revised 17 June 1994, accepted 5 July 1994)

Abstract
Monte Carlo simulation and theoretical results for the short-time dynamics and the statics of hexagonal self-avoiding tethered membranes in free space or confined in a slit are compared. In particular the initial decay rate of the dynamic structure factor and the static structure factor are determined. It is shown that for small scattering vector lengths the tethered membrane has the shape and short-time diffusion constants of a flat disc. Further it is shown that the decay rate for intermediate scattering vector lengths suggests that the membrane primarily relaxes through its out-of-plane modes, implying that the membrane behaves as a rather stiff sheet. For a membrane confined to a slit both the structure factor and the decay rate with the scattering vector parallel to the membrane surface are in better agreement with theory than for a free membrane due to suppression of edge fluctuations. The influence of hydrodynamic interactions of the membrane with the slit walls on the decay rate is discussed.