Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

10:16
A Protocol for Real-time 3D Single Particle Tracking
Published on: January 3, 2018
On the correction of errors in some multiple particle tracking experiments
Christopher J Rowlands1, Peter T C So
1Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Abstract:
A common source of error in particle tracking experiments is identified, and a theoretical model for the magnitude of the error is offered. In many cases, the error is small, but in systems where only a few particles are being tracked, the measured mean squared displacement can be up to 50% smaller than the actual value. The theoretical model predictions are confirmed using numerical simulations and experimental observations of polystyrene microspheres in water.

