title: Force-induced desorption and unzipping of semiflexible polymers.
abstract: The thermally assisted force-induced desorption of semiflexible polymers from an adhesive surface or the unzipping of two bound semiflexible polymers by a localized force are investigated. The phase diagram in the force-temperature plane is calculated both analytically and by Monte Carlo simulations. Force-induced desorption and unzipping of semiflexible polymers are first order phase transitions. A characteristic energy barrier for desorption is predicted, which scales with the square root of the polymer bending rigidity and governs the initial separation process before a plateau of constant separation force is reached. This leads to activated desorption and unzipping kinetics accessible in single molecule experiments.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Science Park Golm, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kierfeld
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D003198:Computer Simulation; D007700:Kinetics; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D044367:Phase Transition; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers