Single-molecule optics.
We review recent developments in single-molecule spectroscopy and microscopy. New optical methods provide access to the absorption, emission, or excitation spectra of single nano-objects and can determine either the positions of these objects with subwavelength accuracy or the full three-dimensional orientation of their transition dipole moments. Recent work aims at using single molecules as nanoparts or nanoelements in a variety of molecular-scale devices, from triggered sources of single photons to single-molecular switches. A prominent new direction explores the various interactions between molecules within individual multichromophoric systems obtained by chemical synthesis. These systems are the models for natural self-assembled systems such as the light-harvesting proteins of bacteria and green plants, which are currently studied on a single-molecule basis. Another important class of multichromophoric systems are conjugated polymers. The combination of microscopy with time- and frequency-resolved spectroscopy is opening a wide field of new and exciting applications to individual nano-objects.
Kulzer
Florian
F
Molecular Nano-Optics and Spins (MoNOS), Huygens Laboratory, University of Leiden, 2333 CA Leiden, The Netherlands.
Orrit
Michel
M
D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D005453:Fluorescence; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D036103:Nanotechnology; D055095:Optics and Photonics; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods; D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry; D012241:Rhodopseudomonas / Q000737:chemistry; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods
D045322:Photosynthetic Reaction Center Complex Proteins; D011108:Polymers