Fluorescence spectroscopy of single molecules under ambient conditions:: Methodology and technology

This review presents an overview of the fluorescence detection and spectroscopy of single molecules (SMS) in the liquids and on surfaces under ambient conditions. The various techniques of SMS, such as confocal epifluorescene detection and wide-field imaging are presented and discussed together with the different methods of data analysis such as fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and burst-by-burst analysis. Selected applications of the various techniques in physics, chemistry and biology are described.