Spectral Jumps of Single Molecules

Super-resolution Microscopy with Single Molecules in Biology and Beyond–Essentials, Current Trends, and Future Challenges

“… 6 For several years, the precise investigation of single molecules at low temperatures was a huge playground for physicists: quantum phenomena, molecular properties, energy transfer mechanisms, and so on could be studied without ensemble averaging and thus at the ultimate level of detail. 7 − 11 …”

“…Both requirements seemed unachievable for a long time, and with the exception of certain experiments in vacuum, only large assemblies of putatively identical molecules were investigated and measured parameters suffered from ensemble averaging. − However, the advent of lasers, novel camera types (such as electron-multiplying charge-coupled device, EMCCD, cameras), and creative experimental techniques brought single molecules in condensed phases within reach in the 1980s, culminating in the first optical detection of a single molecule in 1989 . For several years, the precise investigation of single molecules at low temperatures was a huge playground for physicists: quantum phenomena, molecular properties, energy transfer mechanisms, and so on could be studied without ensemble averaging and thus at the ultimate level of detail. − …”