title: Real-time observation of single-molecule fluorescence in microdroplet streams.
abstract: We report real-time observation of fluorescence bursts from individual Rhodamine 6G molecules in streams of microdroplets (peak signal-to-noise ratios, approximately 30) whose trajectories are constrained with a linear electric quadrupole. This approach offers a reasonable dynamic range in droplet size (3- 12-microm diameter) with <1% shot-to-shot size fluctuations and sensitivity comparable with that of droplet levitation techniques with at least 10(3) higher analysis rates. Applications to the study of single-molecule microcavity effects and stimulated emission are discussed.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lermer
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kung
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Whitten
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Hill