Dynamical scaling exponents for polymer translocation through a nanopore

Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys. 2008 Nov;78(5 Pt 1):050901. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevE.78.050901. Epub 2008 Nov 3.

Abstract

We determine the scaling exponents of polymer translocation (PT) through a nanopore by extensive computer simulations of various microscopic models for chain lengths extending up to N=800 in some cases. We focus on the scaling of the average PT time tau approximately Nalpha and the mean-square change of the PT coordinate, <s2(t)> approximately tbeta. We find alpha=1+2nu and beta=2/alpha for unbiased PT in two dimensions (2D) and three dimensions (3D). The relation alphabeta=2 holds for driven PT in 2D, with a crossover from alpha approximately 2nu for short chains to alpha approximately 1+nu for long chains. This crossover is, however, absent in 3D where alpha=1.42+/-0.01 and alphabeta approximately 2.2 for N approximately 40-800.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Materials Testing / methods
  • Microchemistry / methods
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Polymers