Anisotropic Hydrodynamic Mean-Field Theory for Semiflexible Polymers under Tension

We introduce an anisotropic mean-field approach for the dynamics of semiflexible polymers under tension. The theory is designed to exactly reproduce the lowest order equilibrium averages of a stretched polymer, and includes the non-trivial influence of long-range hydrodynamic coupling. Validated by Brownian hydrodynamics simulations, the theory is highly accurate over a broad parameter range, even far from the weakly bending limit. It captures the change in viscoelastic response due to polymer stiffening under tension that has been observed experimentally in cytoskeletal networks.