Straightening of Thermal Fluctuations in Semiflexible Polymers by Applied Tension.

We investigate the propagation of a suddenly applied tension along a thermally excited semiflexible polymer using analytical approximations, scaling arguments, and numerical simulation. This problem is inherently nonlinear. We find subdiffusive propagation with a dynamical exponent of 1/4. By generalizing the internal elasticity, we show that tense strings exhibit qualitatively different tension profiles and propagation with an exponent of 1/2. Disciplines Physical Sciences and Mathematics | Physics This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/physics_papers/519 ar X iv :c on dm at /9 61 00 98 v1 [ co nd -m at .s of t] 1 1 O ct 1 99 6 Straightening of Thermal Fluctuations in Semi-Flexible Polymers by Applied Tension Udo Seifert, Wolfgang Wintz, and Philip Nelson Max-Planck-Institut für Kolloidund Grenzflächenforschung, Kantstrasse 55, 14513 Teltow-Seehof, Germany; Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA PACS: 61.41.+e, 83.10.Nn, 83.50.By, 87.15.He