Confinement-driven translocation of a flexible polymer

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Jun 16;96(23):238104. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.238104. Epub 2006 Jun 15.

Abstract

We consider the escape of a flexible, self-avoiding polymer chain out of a confined geometry. By means of simulations, we demonstrate that the translocation time can be described by a simple scaling law that exhibits a nonlinear dependence on the degree of polymerization and that is sensitive to the nature of the confining geometry. These results contradict earlier predictions but are in agreement with recently confirmed geometry-dependent expressions for the free energy of confinement.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Elasticity
  • Membranes, Artificial*
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Motion
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Membranes, Artificial
  • Polymers