Multi-site H-bridge breathers in a DNA--shaped double strand

Abstract

We investigate the formation process of nonlinear vibrational modes representing broad H-bridge multi--site breathers in a DNA--shaped double strand. Within a network model of the double helix we take individual motions of the bases within the base pair plane into account. The resulting H-bridge deformations may be asymmetric with respect to the helix axis. Furthermore the covalent bonds may be deformed distinctly in the two backbone strands. Unlike other authors that add different extra terms we limit the interaction to the hydrogen bonds within each base pair and the covalent bonds along each strand. In this way we intend to make apparent the effect of the characteristic helicoidal structure of DNA. We study the energy exchange processes related with the relaxation dynamics from a non-equilibrium conformation. It is demonstrated that the twist-opening relaxation dynamics of a radially distorted double helix attains an equilibrium regime characterized by a multi-site H-bridge breather.