Figure 5.

Given here is the two-dimensional contour plot of the effective potential V_eff(x,u) at low pulling force (left) and at high pulling force (right). The position of substrate anchoring has moved from x = 0 to $\overline{x}=f/\kappa$, and the depth of the energy well of the [o] state has lowered to ΔG_o − fu_max. The dashed line shows the path of the system evolution that leads to crossing the barrier toward the open state. To see this figure in color, go online.