How long does it take to pull an ideal polymer into a small hole?

S. Nechev (LPTMS, Orsay & Landau ITP, Moscow)

Abstract

We present scaling estimates for characteristic times tau_lin and tau_br of pulling ideal linear and randomly branched polymers of molecular weight N into a small hole by a force f. We show that the adsorption process develops as sequential straightening of folds of the initial polymer configuration. We arrive at the following predictions: τ_lin ~ N^3/2f^-1 and τ_br ~ N^5/4f^-1. We confirm our finding by the molecular dynamics experiment. (A.Grosberg, S.Nechaev, M.Tamm, O.Vasilyev, cond-mat/0510418).