Work fluctuations in an elastic dumbbell model of polymers in planar elongational flow

Sharma, Rati and Cherayil, Binny J (2011) Work fluctuations in an elastic dumbbell model of polymers in planar elongational flow. In: Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics, 83 (4, Par).

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Abstract

We use a path-integral approach to calculate the distribution P(w, t) of the fluctuations in the work W at time t of a polymer molecule (modeled as an elastic dumbbell in a viscous solvent) that is acted on by an elongational flow field having a flow rate (gamma) over dot. We find that P(w, t) is non-Gaussian and that, at long times, the ratio P(w, t)/ P (-w, t) is equal to expw/(k(B)T)], independent of (gamma) over dot. On the basis of this finding, we suggest that polymers in elongational flows satisfy a fluctuation theorem.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Physical Review E - Statistical, Nonlinear and Soft Matter Physics
Publisher:	The American Physical Society
Additional Information:	Copyright of this article belongs to The American Physical Society.
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Inorganic & Physical Chemistry
Date Deposited:	30 May 2011 07:46
Last Modified:	30 May 2011 07:46
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/37795

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