Theoretical investigation of aspects of single-molecule fluorescence detection in microcapillaries

Abstract

In the present report, the results of a theoretical investigation of two aspects of single-molecule detection by laser-induced fluorescence in microcapillaries are presented. The two issues studied are the scattering of the exciting laser beam on the microcapillary and the change of the fluorescence lifetime of the molecule due to the electrodynamic interaction between its fluorescence emission and the confining capillary. Numerical results for experimentally relevant conditions are provided.