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arXiv · 1901.04616

The conformation of a semiflexible filament in a quenched random potential

Valentin M. Slepukhin·Maximilian J. Grill·Kei W. Müller·Wolfgang A. Wall·Alex J. Levine
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Abstract

Motivated by the observation of the storage of excess elastic free energy - (prestress) -- in cross linked semiflexible networks, we consider the problem of the conformational statistics of a single semiflexible polymer in a quenched random potential. The random potential, which represents the effect of cross linking to other filaments is assumed to have a finite correlation length $ξ$ and mean strength $V_{0}$. We examine statistical distribution of curvature in filament with thermal persistence length $\ell_{P}$ and length $L_0$ in the limit that $\ell_{P} \gg L_0$. We compare our theoretical predictions to finite element Brownian dynamics simulations. Lastly we comment on the validity of replica field techniques in addressing these questions.

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Valentin M. Slepukhin, Maximilian J. Grill, Kei W. Müller, Wolfgang A. Wall, Alex J. Levine. 2019-01-15. The conformation of a semiflexible filament in a quenched random potential. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.99.042501

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