Abstract. Using dynamic simulations and analytic methods, we study the elastic response of a helical filament subject to uniaxial tension over a wide range of bend and twist persistence length. A low-pitch helix at low temperatures exhibits a stretching instability and the force-extension curve consists of a sequence of spikes. At elevated temperature (i.e. small persistence lengths) the helix melts and a pronounced force plateau is obtained in the fixed-extension ensemble. The torque boundary condition significantly affects the resulting elastic properties.

PACS numbers: 87.15.-v, 62.25.+g, 82.37.Gk

Print publication: Issue 6 (March 2007)
Received 5 December 2006, in final form 25 January 2007
Published 27 February 2007