Transverse fluctuations of grafted polymers.
We study the statistical mechanics of grafted polymers of arbitrary stiffness in a two-dimensional embedding space with Monte Carlo simulations. The probability distribution function of the free end is found to be highly anisotropic and non-Gaussian for typical semiflexible polymers. The reduced distribution in the transverse direction, a Gaussian in the stiff and flexible limits, shows a double-peak structure at intermediate stiffnesses. We also explore the response to a transverse force applied at the polymer free end. We identify F-Actin as an ideal benchmark for the effects discussed.
Abteilung Theorie, Hahn-Meitner-Institut, Glienicker Strasse 100, 14109 Berlin, Germany.
G
G
Lattanzi
T
T
Munk
E
E
Frey