Topological methods for characterizing the relationship between polymer entanglement and viscoelasticity

Polymers are macromolecules that cannot cross each other without breaking their bonds. This leads to polymer chain entanglement which determines bulk viscoelastic responses of the material. Understanding the relation between entanglement and viscoelasticity requires a rigorous measure of entanglement. In this talk we will see how tools from topology can be used to rigorously characterize the relationship between polymer chain entanglement and bulk viscoelastic responses.