SINGLE-PARTICLE DETECTOR USING OPTICAL ANALYSIS, SINGLE-PARTICLE DETECTION METHOD USING SAME, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR SINGLE-PARTICLE DETECTION

摘要

Provided is a single-particle detection technique that uses a scanning molecule counting method to make it possible to separately detect single particles using an optical measurement from a confocal microscope or a two-photon micropscope, and quantitatively observe the state or properties of the particles. This technique for detecting single particles in a sample solution is characterized by: creating chronological optical intensity data by detecting light that includes substantially constant background light in an optical detection region, while moving the position of the microscope optical detection region within the sample solution; and treating a decline in optical intensity, caused when a single particle not emitting light in the chronological optical intensity data (or a particle having a light-emitting intensity in a detection wavelength band lower than that of the background light) enters the optical detection region, as a signal representing the presence of single particles, and detecting separately.