Optimal diffusion coefficient estimation in single-particle tracking

Xavier Michalet and Andrew J. Berglund
Phys. Rev. E 85, 061916 – Published 21 June 2012
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Abstract

Single-particle tracking is increasingly used to extract quantitative parameters on single molecules and their environment, while advances in spatial and temporal resolution of tracking techniques inspire new questions and avenues of investigation. Correspondingly, sophisticated analytical methods are constantly developed to obtain more refined information from measured trajectories. Here we point out some fundamental limitations of these approaches due to the finite length of trajectories, the presence of localization error, and motion blur, focusing on the simplest motion regime of free diffusion in an isotropic medium (Brownian motion). We show that two recently proposed algorithms approach the theoretical limit of diffusion coefficient uncertainty. We discuss the practical performance of the algorithms as well as some important implications of these results for single-particle tracking.

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  • Received 25 January 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.85.061916

©2012 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Xavier Michalet1,* and Andrew J. Berglund2,†

  • 1Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
  • 2Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899, USA

  • *michalet@chem.ucla.edu
  • ajberglund@gmail.com

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Issue

Vol. 85, Iss. 6 — June 2012

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