Alterations of single molecule fluorescence lifetimes in near-field optical microscopy
- PMID: 17838037
- DOI: 10.1126/science.265.5170.364
Alterations of single molecule fluorescence lifetimes in near-field optical microscopy
Abstract
Fluorescence lifetimes of single Rhodamine 6G molecules on silica surfaces were measured with pulsed laser excitation, time-correlated single photon counting, and near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM). The fluorescence lifetime varies with the position of a molecule relative to a near-field probe. Qualitative features of lifetime decreases are consistent with molecular excited state quenching effects near metal surfaces. The technique of NSOM provides a means of altering the environment of a single fluorescent molecule and its decay kinetics in a repeatable fashion.
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