Complex Self-Consistent Field Theory and Its Implication for Field Theoretic Simulations

Abstract

For decades, self-consistent field theory (SCFT) has proven to be a powerful tool for the exploration of polymeric nanostructures formed by heterogeneous polymers. One naturally assumes that the solution of SCFT must be real-valued functions, but we unveil an intriguing possibility that the saddle-point approximation may result in complex-valued fields. Focusing on AB homopolymer mixtures and AB diblock copolymer systems, we explore the characteristics of complex SCFT solutions. It turns out that these findings offer valuable insights for comprehending the results of complex Langevin field theoretic simulations, where these complex solutions are frequently visited.