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Updated: May 7, 2026

Magnetic Tweezers for the Measurement of Twist and Torque
Published on: May 19, 2014
Statistical mechanics of ribbons under bending and twisting torques
1Raman Research Institute, Bangalore, 560 080, India.
Abstract:
We present an analytical study of ribbons subjected to an external torque. We first describe the elastic response of a ribbon within a purely mechanical framework. We then study the role of thermal fluctuations in modifying its elastic response. We predict the moment-angle relation of bent and twisted ribbons. Such a study is expected to shed light on the role of twist in DNA looping and on bending elasticity of twisted graphene ribbons. Our quantitative predictions can be tested against future single molecule experiments.
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