Tension dynamics and viscoelasticity of extensible wormlike chains

Obermayer, Benedikt and Frey, Erwin (October 2009): Tension dynamics and viscoelasticity of extensible wormlike chains. In: Physical Review E, Vol. 80, No. 4: 040801-1

Abstract

The dynamic response of prestressed semiflexible biopolymers is characterized by the propagation and relaxation of tension, which arises due to the near inextensibility of a stiff backbone. It is coupled to the dynamics of contour length stored in thermal undulations but also to the local relaxation of elongational strain. We present a systematic theory of tension dynamics for stiff yet extensible wormlike chains. Our results show that even moderate prestress gives rise to distinct Rouse-like extensibility signatures in the high-frequency viscoelastic response.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Form of publication: Publisher's Version
• Keywords: biomechanics; elasticity; elongation; polymers; stress relaxation; viscoelasticity
• Faculties: Physics
• Subjects: 500 Science > 530 Physics
• ISSN: 1539-3755
• Place of Publication: ONE PHYSICS ELLIPSE, COLLEGE PK, MD 20740-3844 USA
• Language: English