The combination of molecular dynamics simulations and neutron scattering measurements on three different glass-forming polymers (polyisoprene, poly(vinyl ethylene) and polybutadiene) has allowed to establish the existence of a crossover from Gaussian to non-Gaussian behavior for the incoherent scattering function in the α-relaxation regime. The deviation from Gaussian behavior observed can be reproduced assuming the existence of a distribution of discrete jump lengths underlying the sublinear diffusion of the atomic motions during the structural relaxation.

By means of neutron spin echo (NSE) we have explored the dynamics of poly(vinyl ethylene) on length scales covering Rouse dynamics and below. The results establish the simultaneous existence of a generic sublinear diffusion regime which underlies the α-process in addition to the Rouse process. Both regimes are separated by a well-defined dynamic crossover. From that the size of the Gaussian blobs making up the Rouse model is determined directly. The glassy dynamics may thus be identified with subdiffusive motions occurring within these Gaussian blobs.