Correlated Fluctuations of DNA between Nanofluidic Entropic Traps

Here we explore thermally driven contour fluctuations within a single DNA chain partitioned between two embedded cavity reservoirs in a nanofluidic slit. Analysis of integrated cavity intensity suggests that contour is exchanged dynamically between the reservoirs via modes that resemble the symmetric and antisymmetric modes of a coupled harmonic oscillator. The relaxation time of the modes is measured as a function of cavity width and spacing....