Nonequilibrium Dynamics of a Manipulated Polymer: Stretching and Relaxation

Abstract

Owing to their inherent softness, long flexible polymers may exhibit nonequilibrium responses upon manipulations. We attempt to analyze such processes based on the “interface” description associated with the tension propagation. Two illustrative examples, i.e., the dynamics of stretching and its reverse (shrinkage) process, are presented along with the basic formulation.