Plectoneme (IMAGE)

Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences

Plectoneme

Caption

A filament is clamped at the top end and prestretched by a small amount by applying a downward axial load to the bottom end. The bottom end is then twisted, keeping the axial load on the bottom end constant. After a critical amount of twist is inserted, the filament spontaneously buckles into a loopy.

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(Video courtesy of Nicholas Charles/Harvard SEAS)

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