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.

Keywords

Near-field scanning optical microscopeFluorescenceRhodamine 6GMicroscopyExcited stateOptical microscopeMaterials scienceExcitationQuenching (fluorescence)MoleculeRhodamineFluorescence in the life sciencesFluorescence microscopeResonance fluorescenceSingle-molecule experimentMicroscopeLaser-induced fluorescenceChemistryOpticsAtomic physicsScanning electron microscopePhysics

Affiliated Institutions

Los Alamos National Laboratory US

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Publication Info

Year: 1994
Type: article
Volume: 265
Issue: 5170
Pages: 364-367
Citations: 339
Access: Closed

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APA Style

                            
                                
                                    W. Patrick Ambrose, 
                                
                                    Peter M. Goodwin, 
                                
                                    Richard A. Keller
                                
                                et al.
                            
                            (1994). 
                            Alterations of Single Molecule Fluorescence Lifetimes in Near-Field Optical Microscopy. 
                            Science
                            , 265
                            (5170)
                            , 364-367.
                            https://doi.org/10.1126/science.265.5170.364
                        

Identifiers

DOI: 10.1126/science.265.5170.364