AbstractThe local electrostatic order in polyelectrolytic solutions has been studied by magnetic birefringence measurements on short segments (n∼ 34) of the (Tyr‐Glu)npolypeptide in high magnetic fields up to 13 T. We give evidence that only above a critical polymer concentration do small domains exist within which the polymers show a parallel ordering. This structural order disappears suddenly at ionic strengths above about 5 × 10−2Mand above a melting temperature of abou