  We study the translocation of a semiflexible polymer through a conical
channel with attractive surface interactions and a driving force which varies
spatially inside the channel. Using the results of the translocation dynamics
of a flexible polymer through an extended channel as control, we first show
that the asymmetric shape of the channel gives rise to non-monotonic features
in the total translocation time as a function of the apex angle of the channel.
The waiting time distributions of individual monomer beads inside the channel
show unique features strongly dependent on the driving force and the surface
interactions. Polymer stiffness results in longer translocation times for all
angles of the channel. Further, non-monotonic features in the translocation
time as a function of the channel angle changes substantially as the polymer
becomes stiffer, which is reflected in the changing features of the waiting
time distributions. We construct a free energy description of the system
incorporating entropic and energetic contributions in the low force regime to
explain the simulation results.
