Polymer translocation through a nanopore under a pulling force.
We investigate polymer translocation through a nanopore under a pulling force using Langevin dynamics simulations. We concentrate on the influence of the chain length N and the pulling force F on the translocation time tau . The distribution of tau is symmetric and narrow for strong F . We find that tau approximately N{2} and translocation velocity v approximately N{-1} for both moderate and strong F . For infinitely wide pores, three regimes are observed for tau as a function of F . With increasing F , tau is independent of F for weak F , and then tau approximately F{-2+nu{-1}} for moderate F, where nu is the Flory exponent, which finally crosses over to tau approximately F{-1} for strong force. For narrow pores, even for moderate force tau approximately F{-1}. Finally, the waiting time, for monomer s and monomer s+1 to exit the pore, has a maximum for s close to the end of the chain, in contrast to the case where the polymer is driven by an external force within the pore.
Laboratory of Physics, Helsinki University of Technology, P.O. Box 1100, FIN-02015 TKK, Espoo, Finland.
Ilkka
I
Huopaniemi
Kaifu
K
Luo
Tapio
T
Ala-Nissila
See-Chen
SC
Ying
D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*
D001704:Biopolymers