Studying Nanoscale Dynamics with Super-Resolved Microscopy

Over recent years super-resolved microscopy has been increasingly applied to soft materials, a loosely defined field that encompasses synthetic and biological polymers, membranes, surfactants, polymer films, and colloid particles, to name a few. The common thread that ties these systems together is the complexity of the underlying physics: drastic macroscopic responses to subtle environmental changes, non-Newtonian dynamics, and a labyrinth of length and timescales that contribute to the observed behavior. Super-resolution microscopy can provide unique point-of-view into the world of synthetic polymers, thin films, and interfaces by accessing the very spatial and temporal dimensions that are most relevant. The talk will be aimed at demonstrating the potential of super-resolved fluorescence microscopy in soft materials with examples from classic polymer physics.