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Real-Time Imaging of Molecular Brownian Motion
Context
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed the world’s fastest single-shot microscope capable of real-time imaging of Brownian motion at the angstrom scale.
Brownian Motion – Conceptual Basis:
- First explained by Albert Einstein in 1905, Brownian motion refers to the random movement of particles suspended in a fluid, resulting from collisions with surrounding fast-moving molecules.
- It serves as foundational evidence for the existence of atoms and molecules.
Breakthrough Imaging Technology by Caltech:
- Developed a non-intrusive, real-time imaging technique capable of molecular sizing down to the tens of angstroms (1 Å = 10?¹? m).
- The method utilizes the stochastic nature of Brownian motion to measure molecular properties.
- The system captures images at hundreds of billions of frames per second, enabling observation of molecular interactions in ultrafast timescales.
Key Technological Components:
- Digital Micromirror Device (DMD): Used to manipulate and shape the light beam using programmable micromirrors.
- Streak Camera: Converts photons into electrons and captures their temporal spread to infer particle sizes.
- Ultrashort Laser Pulses: Similar to those used in LASIK, enabling precise light-sheet imaging within fluid mediums.
Applications:
- Biomedical Research: Enables in-situ analysis of molecular-scale processes relevant to disease mechanisms and drug interactions.
- Nanotechnology & Material Science: Supports real-time tracking of nanoparticles, especially in turbulent or gas environments such as flames.
- Non-intrusive Imaging: Overcomes limitations of conventional microscopy (e.g., invasive techniques, limited field of view, sample damage).
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