  In the present work the dynamics of a continuous inextensible chain is
studied. The chain is regarded as a system of small particles subjected to
constraints on their reciprocal distances. It is proposed a treatment of
systems of this kind based on a set Langevin equations in which the noise is
characterized by a non-gaussian probability distribution. The method is
explained in the case of a freely hinged chain. In particular, the generating
functional of the correlation functions of the relevant degrees of freedom
which describe the conformations of this chain is derived. It is shown that in
the continuous limit this generating functional coincides with a model of an
inextensible chain previously discussed by one of the authors of this work.
Next, the approach developed here is applied to a inextensible chain, called
the freely jointed bar chain, in which the basic units are small extended
objects. The generating functional of the freely jointed bar chain is
constructed. It is shown that it differs profoundly from that of the freely
hinged chain. Despite the differences, it is verified that in the continuous
limit both generating functionals coincide as it is expected.
