The Viscous Nonlinear Dynamics of Twist and Writhe
Preprint
- 8 February 1998
Abstract
Exploiting the "natural" frame of space curves, we formulate an intrinsic dynamics of twisted elastic filaments in viscous fluids. A pair of coupled nonlinear equations describing the temporal evolution of the filament's complex curvature and twist density embodies the dynamic interplay of twist and writhe. These are used to illustrate a novel nonlinear phenomenon: ``geometric untwisting" of open filaments, whereby twisting strains relax through a transient writhing instability without performing axial rotation. This may explain certain experimentally observed motions of fibers of the bacterium B. subtilis [N.H. Mendelson, et al., J. Bacteriol. 177, 7060 (1995)].Keywords
All Related Versions
- Version 1, 1998-02-08, ArXiv
- Published version: Physical Review Letters, 80 (23), 5232.
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