Partha Pratim Mondal - Böcker

This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of single-molecular super-resolution microscopy. It covers the behavior of light as it propagates through optical elements and specially designed optical systems, the wave nature of light and its interaction with single molecules, the photophysics of single molecules, the instrumentation and dedicated single-photon detectors necessary for single-molecule detection, and the future of quantum aspects of light in super-resolution microscopy.With its gradual progression from the basics of light to the most advanced techniques in single-molecule-based super-resolution microscopy, this book’s easy-to-understand language and focus on the interdisciplinary nature of single-molecule science make it ideal for students from a wide range of research disciplines across physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, and engineering. Written in a way that is accessible to everyone, from undergraduates to experts, this book does not require a strong background in physics or optics and deliberately avoids the use of extreme mathematics in favor of logical arguments and simple reasoning to explain complex concepts. Chapter-end questions and worked examples round out this entirely self-contained textbook, making it the ideal accompaniment to courses on imaging optics and single-molecule science.

This book starts at an introductory level and leads reader to the most advanced topics in fluorescence imaging and super-resolution techniques that have enabled new developments such as nanobioimaging, multiphoton microscopy, nanometrology and nanosensors. The interdisciplinary subject of fluorescence microscopy and imaging requires complete knowledge of imaging optics and molecular physics. So, this book approaches the subject by introducing optical imaging concepts before going in more depth about advanced imaging systems and their applications. Additionally, molecular orbital theory is the important basis to present molecular physics and gain a complete understanding of light-matter interaction at the geometrical focus. The two disciplines have some overlap since light controls the molecular states of molecules and conversely, molecular states control the emitted light. These two mechanisms together determine essential imaging factors such as, molecular cross-section, Stoke shift, emission and absorption spectra, quantum yield, signal-to-noise ratio, Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and fluorescence lifetime. These factors form the basis of many fluorescence based devices. The book is organized into two parts. The first part deals with basics of imaging optics and its applications.  The advanced part takes care of several imaging techniques and related instrumentation that are developed in the last decade pointing towards far-field diffraction unlimited imaging.