# name
Direct detection of molecular intermediates from first-passage times

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
All natural phenomena are governed by energy landscapes. However, the direct measurement of this fundamen-tal quantity remains challenging, particularly in complex systems involving intermediate states. Here, we uncover key details of the energy landscapes that underpin a range of experimental systems through quantitative analysis of first-passage time distributions. By combined study of colloidal dynamics in confinement, transport through a biological pore, and the folding kinetics of DNA hairpins, we demonstrate conclusively how a short-time, power-law regime of the first-passage time distribution reflects the number of intermediate states associated with each of these processes, despite their differing length scales, time scales, and interactions. We thereby establish a powerful method for investigating the underlying mechanisms of complex molecular processes.

# metadata.dc.publisher[].value
American Association for the Advancement of Science

# metadata.dc.rights[].value
cc-by-nc (c) Thorneywork, Alice L. et al., 2020

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (Física de la Matèria Condensada)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Direct detection of molecular intermediates from first-passage times