Eur. Phys. J. E (2007) 23: 375-388
https://doi.org/10.1140/epje/i2006-10221-y

Regular Article

Stretching dynamics of semiflexible polymers

¹ Arnold Sommerfeld Center and Center for NanoScience, LMU München, Theresienstr. 37, 80333, München, Germany
² Lyman Laboratory of Physics, Harvard University, 02138, Cambridge, MA, USA
³ Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Leipzig, Postfach 100920, 04009, Leipzig, Germany

^* e-mail: obermayer@physik.lmu.de

Received: 24 October 2006
Accepted: 28 June 2007
Published online: 29 August 2007

Abstract

We analyze the nonequilibrium dynamics of single inextensible semiflexible biopolymers as stretching forces are applied at the ends. Based on different (contradicting) heuristic arguments, various scaling laws have been proposed for the propagation speed of the backbone tension which is induced in response to stretching. Here, we employ a newly developed unified theory to systematically substantiate, restrict, and extend these approaches. Introducing the practically relevant scenario of a chain equilibrated under some prestretching force f _pre that is suddenly exposed to a different external force f _ext at the ends, we give a concise physical explanation of the underlying relaxation processes by means of an intuitive blob picture. We discuss the corresponding intermediate asymptotics, derive results for experimentally relevant observables, and support our conclusions by numerical solutions of the coarse-grained equations of motion for the tension.