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arXiv · 0704.2138

Semi-classical buckling of stiff polymers

Marc Emanuel·Hervé Mohrbach·Mehmet Sayar·Helmut Schiessel·Igor M. Kulić
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Abstract

A quantitative theory of the buckling of a worm like chain based on a semi-classical approximation of the partition function is presented. The contribution of thermal fluctuations to the force-extension relation that allows to go beyond the classical Euler buckling is derived in the linear and non-linear regime as well. It is shown that the thermal fluctuations in the nonlinear buckling regime increase the end-to-end distance of the semiflexible rod if it is confined to 2 dimensions as opposed to the 3 dimensional case. Our approach allows a complete physical understanding of buckling in D=2 and in D=3 below and above the Euler transition.

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Marc Emanuel, Hervé Mohrbach, Mehmet Sayar, Helmut Schiessel, Igor M. Kulić. 2007-04-18. Semi-classical buckling of stiff polymers. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.76.061907

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