https://doi.org/10.1140/epjst/e2014-02323-7
Regular Article
Intramolecular relaxation in dynamic force spectroscopy
Universität Leipzig, Institut für theoretische Physik, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
a e-mail: klaus.kroy@uni-leipzig.de
Received: 17 October 2014
Revised: 5 November 2014
Published online: 15 December 2014
In dynamic force spectroscopy, bond breaking is induced by external dynamic loading. Model parameters of the molecular energy landscape are then inferred from the measured rupture force statistics. Here we discuss a systematic unified theory that captures both previously separate limits of slow and fast loading, corresponding to the diverse conditions applied in experiments and computer simulations, respectively. Our approach is based on an exact evaluation of the time-dependent probability flux across an absorbing boundary. Already its leading-order analytical predictions supersede previous results. We give an outlook on the inclusion of memory effects, illustrated by the example of semiflexible linker relaxation.
© EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag, 2014
