title: Polymer translocation: the effect of backflow.
abstract: 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.affiliation: Department of Physics, College of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khod 123, Oman. issam@squ.edu.om
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Yeomans
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002412:Cations; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004058:Diffusion; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009038:Motion; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D021381:Protein Transport; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D011108:Polymers