Single-Molecule Super-Resolution Optical Microscopy

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.