Propagation and Relaxation of Tension in Stiff Polymers
arXiv:cond-mat/0405367 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.077804
Abstract
We present a unified theory for the longitudinal dynamic response of a stiff polymer in solution to various external perturbations (mechanical excitations, hydrodynamic flows, electrical fields, temperature quenches ...) that can be represented as sudden changes of ambient/boundary conditions. The theory relies on a comprehensive analysis of the non--equilibrium propagation and relaxation of backbone stresses in a wormlike chain. We recover and substantially extend previous results based on heuristic arguments. Intriguing new experimental implications are pointed out.
4 pages, 3 figures