Polymer translocation: the effect of backflow.

Journal article

We investigate the effect of backflow on the translocation dynamics of short, flexible polymer chains threading through a small hole in a wall. We find that hydrodynamic interactions between polymer beads play an important role in determining the translocation time distribution: as a monomer moves through the hole it sets up a flow field which transfers momentum to neighboring monomers, thus helping them to move in the same direction. Translocation times are calculated by using the velocity-Verlet algorithm to solve the equations of motion of a polymer which moves in a fluid described by the stochastic rotation algorithm, a particle-based Navier-Stokes solver.

Authors: Ali, I; Yeomans, J

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Journal of chemical physics
• Volume: 123
• Issue: 23
• Pages: 234903
• Publication date: 2005-12-01
• DOI: 10.1063/1.2138702
• EISSN: 1089-7690
• ISSN: 0021-9606
• Language: English
• Keywords: Computer Simulation; Algorithms; Motion; Diffusion; Polymers; Molecular Conformation; Models, Theoretical; Models, Statistical; Protein Transport; Models, Biological; Cations; Time Factors; Stochastic Processes