| abstract |
A method for characterizing fluorescent molecules or other particles in samples comprising the steps of:n a) monitoring fluctuating intensity of fluorescence emitted by the molecules or other particles in at least one measurement volume of a non-uniform spatial brightness profile by measuring numbers of photon counts in primary time intervals by a single or more photon detectors, b) determining at least one distribution of numbers of photon counts, {circumflex over (P)}(n), from the measured numbers of photon counts, c) determining physical quantities characteristic to said particles by fitting the distribution of numbers of photon counts {circumflex over (P)}(n), wherein the fitting procedure involves calculation of a theoretical distribution function of the number of photon counts P(n) through its generating function, defined as n G ( ξ → ) = ∑ n ξ → n P ( n ) . |