Single molecule fluorescence in ultrathin capillaries: an electrodynamic study

The present Letter studies theoretically how the fluorescence lifetime of dye molecules changes when they are confined within glass microcapillaries. The lifetime change is due to the electrodynamic interaction between the emitting molecule and the confining microcavity. The study is done within the framework of the classical theory of spontaneous dipole emission. Numerical results are presented for experimentally relevant conditions.