The dynamics of a single polymer tethered to a solid surface in a shear flow was observed using fluorescently labeled DNA chains. Dramatic shear enhanced temporal fluctuations in the chain extension were observed. The rate of these fluctuations initially decreased for increasing shear rate $\dot{\gamma }$ and increased above a critical $\dot{\gamma }$. Simulations revealed that these anomalous dynamics arise from a continual recirculating motion of the chain or cyclic dynamics. These dynamics arise from a coupling of the chain velocity in the flow direction to thermally driven fluctuations of the chain in the shear gradient direction.

• Received 29 November 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.4769