Abstract
Optical fluorescence imaging is capable of measuring both the translational and rotational dynamics of single molecules. However, unavoidable measurement noise will result in inaccurate estimates of rotational dynamics, causing a molecule to appear to be more rotationally constrained than it actually is. We report a mathematical framework to compute the fundamental limit of accuracy in measuring the rotational mobility of dipolelike emitters. By applying our framework to both in-plane and three-dimensional methods, we provide a means to choose the optimal orientation-measurement technique based on experimental conditions.
- Received 25 November 2018
- Revised 24 March 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.198301
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