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Synthesis of Cyclic Polymers and Characterization of Their Diffusive Motion in the Melt State at the Single Molecule Level
Published on: September 26, 2016
Translocation time of periodically forced polymer chains
Alessandro Fiasconaro1, Juan José Mazo, Fernando Falo
1Departamento de Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain. afiascon@unizar.es
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|January 15, 2011
Summary
We found that polymer translocation time shows oscillations and a minimum when driven by an oscillating potential. This minimum is linked to synchronization between the polymer and the driving force frequency.
Area of Science:
- Polymer physics
- Statistical mechanics
Background:
- Understanding polymer dynamics is crucial in various fields.
- Polymer translocation through nanopores is a key process in biology and nanotechnology.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate the frequency dependence of polymer translocation time for a Rouse chain.
- Analyze the role of external driving forces and thermal fluctuations.
Main Methods:
- Simulated a unidimensional Rouse chain model.
- Applied a spatially localized oscillating linear potential.
- Analyzed translocation time dependence on frequency, damping, and polymer length.
Main Results:
- Observed a minimum and clear oscillations in translocation time versus frequency.
- Oscillations arise from synchronization between translocation time and driving force period.
- Found a precise L^2 scaling for translocation time with polymer length.
- Identified analogies with resonant activation phenomena due to thermal fluctuations.
Conclusions:
- The frequency of the driving potential significantly impacts polymer translocation dynamics.
- Synchronization effects lead to frequency-dependent minima in translocation time.
- Thermal fluctuations play a role analogous to resonant activation.
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