Structural dynamics and optimal transport of an active polymer

H Khalilian and F Peruani and J Sarabadani, SOFT MATTER, 20, 7592-7600 (2024).

DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00504j

We study the spontaneous configuration transitions of an active semi- flexible polymer between spiral and non-spiral states, and show that the configuration dynamics is fully described by a subcritical pitchfork bifurcation. Exploiting the fact that an active polymer barely moves in spiral states and exhibits net displacements in non-spiral states, we theoretically prove that the motion of the active polymer is consistent with a run-and-tumble-like dynamics. Moreover, we find that there exists an optimal self-propelling force that maximizes the diffusion coefficient. The present study shows that the transport properties of active polymers are intrinsically coupled with the polymer configuration dynamics and unveils the existence of an optimal self-propelling force that maximizes the active polymers diffusivity.

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