Single Molecule Dynamics Studied by Polarization Modulation

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.77.3979· OSTI ID:390329

Ha, T; Enderle, T; Chemla, S ^[1]; Selvin, R ^[2]; Weiss, S ^[3]

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1. Physics Department, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
2. Life Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
3. Molecular Design Institute, Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

We observed and made unambiguous distinctions between abrupt photophysical events of single molecules: a rotational jump of a single dipole, a transition to a dark state (reversible and irreversible photobleaching), and a spectral jump. The study was performed in the far field by modulating the excitation polarization and monitoring the fluorescence in time. This technique also allowed us to measure the in-plane dipole orientation of stationary single molecular dipoles with subdegree accuracy and to resolve desorption and readsorption of fluorophores from and onto a glass surface. In one case, clear evidence was obtained for rapid rotation of the dipole after a desorption process. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 390329
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 77; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

66 PHYSICS
DESORPTION
DIPOLES
DYNAMICS
EXCITATION
FLUORESCENCE
MODULATION
MOLECULAR DYNAMICS CALCULATIONS
MOLECULES
ORIENTATION
POLARIZATION
ROTATION
fluorophores