Calculation of Photon-Count Number Distributions via Master Equations

Fitting of photon-count number histograms is a way of analysis of fluorescence intensity fluctuations, a successor to fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. First versions of the theory for calculating photon-count number distributions have assumed constant emission intensity by a molecule during a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biophysical journal 2006-03, Vol.90 (6), p.2179-2191
Main Authors: Palo, Kaupo, Mets, Ülo, Loorits, Vello, Kask, Peet
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Atoms & subatomic particles
Biophysics
Computer Simulation
Fluorescence
Fluorescent Dyes - analysis
Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry
Models, Chemical
Photons
Radiation Dosage
Radiometry - methods
Spectrometry, Fluorescence - methods
Spectroscopy, Imaging, Other Techniques
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Summary:Fitting of photon-count number histograms is a way of analysis of fluorescence intensity fluctuations, a successor to fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. First versions of the theory for calculating photon-count number distributions have assumed constant emission intensity by a molecule during a counting time interval. For a long time a question has remained unanswered: to what extent is this assumption violated in experiments? Here we present a theory of photon-count number distributions that takes account of intensity fluctuations during a counting time interval. Theoretical count-number distributions are calculated via a numerical solution of Master equations (ME), which is a set of differential equations describing diffusion, singlet-triplet transitions, and photon emission. Detector afterpulsing and dead-time corrections are also included. The ME-theory is tested by fitting a series of photon-count number histograms corresponding to different lengths of the counting time interval. Compared to the first version of fluorescence intensity multiple distribution analysis theory introduced in 2000, the fit quality is significantly improved. It is discussed how a theory of photon-count number distributions, which assumes constant emission intensity during a counting time interval, may also yield a good fit quality. We argue that the spatial brightness distribution used in calculations of the fit curve is not the true spatial brightness distribution. Instead, a number of dynamic processes, which cause fluorescence intensity fluctuations, are indirectly taken into account via the profile adjustment parameters.
ISSN:0006-3495
1542-0086
DOI:10.1529/biophysj.105.066084