Sub-millisecond Translational and Orientational Dynamics of a Freely Moving Single Nanoprobe

This paper presents a new experiment with which we are able to measure the 3D translational motion of a single particle at 10its time resolution and with similar to 10 nm spatial resolution while at the same time determining the 3D orientation of the same single particle with 250 its time resolution. These high time resolutions are similar to 40 times greater than previous simultaneous measurements of 3D position and 3D orientation. Detailed numerical simulations and experiments are used to demonstrate that the technique can measure 3D orientation at the shot-noise limit. The microscope is also able to simultaneously measure the length or width (with the other assumed) of the plasmonic nanorods used here in situ and nondestructively, which should yield a greater understanding of the underlying dynamics. This technique should be applicable to a broad range of problems where environments which change in space and time may perturb physical and chemical dynamics.

Automated summary

This paper presents a new experimental technique with high time resolution to simultaneously measure the 3D translational motion and orientation of a single particle. The technique can also be applied to a wide range of problems where changing environments may perturb physical and chemical dynamics.