Optical and hydrodynamical regimes in dilute solutions of polyelectrolytes

A careful analysis of the equations governing dynamical disturbances in dilute solutions of polyelectrolytes (described on the basis of a conformational model with electromechanical interactions) allows one to place in evidence two extreme regimes, one called the optical regime, which justifies the use of optical methods for measuring the main instantaneous characteristics of the solutions, and the other that corresponds to electrohydrodynamical flows where a hierarchy can be exhibited for the various effects contributing to the flow equations.