Probing structural transitions of single-polymer chains with mechanical stress (B13*)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers ; Statistical Physics, Nonlinear Dynamics, Complex Systems, Soft and Fluid Matter, Biological Physics
• Term: from 2015 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 189853844

In this project we will investigate how single polymer chains undergo structural transitions under applied mechanical tension or torsion. For this we will use magnetic tweezers that allow one to apply force or twist to single chain-like molecules. Initially we will investigate internal torsion-induced structural transitions within single DNA molecules under conditions of extensive negative supertwist in order to unravel the fate of the DNA structure under these conditions. In the second phase of the project, we will further develop our magnetic tweezers experiments in order to study synthetic polymers for which we want to measure the forces that are required to unreel single chains out of a polymer crystal.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 102: Polymers under Multiple Constraints: Restricted and Controlled Molecular Order and Mobility
• Applicant Institution: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
• Co-Applicant Institution: Universität Leipzig
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Ralf Seidel, since 7/2015