Single-molecule optics

We review recent developments in single-molecule spectroscopy and microscopy. New optical methods provide access to the absorption, emission, or excitation spectra of single nano-objects and can determine either the positions of these objects with subwavelength accuracy or the full three-dimensional orientation of their transition dipole moments. Recent work aims at using single molecules as nanoparts or nanoelements in a variety of molecular-scale devices, from triggered sources of single photons to single-molecular switches. A prominent new direction explores the various interactions between molecules within individual multichromophoric systems obtained by chemical synthesis. These systems are the models for natural self-assembled systems such as the light-harvesting proteins of bacteria and green plants, which are currently studied on a single-molecule basis. Another important class of multichromophoric systems are conjugated polymers. The combination of microscopy with time- and frequency-resolved spectroscopy is opening a wide field of new and exciting applications to individual nano-objects.