vii

Contents

Preface...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ix

About the Author............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ xiii

Chapter 1 Introduction: Toolbox at the Physical–​Life Science Interface.................................................................................................. 1

Chapter 2 Orientation for the Bio-​Curious: The Basics of Biology for the

Physical Scientist............................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Chapter 3 Making Light Work in Biology: Basic, Foundational Detection and

Imaging Techniques Involving Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared

Electromagnetic Radiation Interactions with Biological Matter......................................................................................... 59

Chapter 4 Making Light Work Harder in Biology: Advanced, Frontier UV–​VIS–​IR Spectroscopy

and Microscopy for Detection and Imaging................................................................................................................................. 111

Chapter 5 Detection and Imaging Tools that Use Nonoptical Waves: Radio and Microwaves, Gamma

and X-​Rays, and Various High-​Energy Particle Techniques�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 161

Chapter 6 Forces: Methods that Measure and/​or Manipulate Biological Forces or Use Forces in

Their Principal Mode of Operation on Biological Matter....................................................................................................... 203

Chapter 7 Complementary Experimental Tools: Valuable Experimental Methods that Complement

Mainstream Research Biophysics Techniques.............................................................................................................................. 265

Chapter 8 Theoretical Biophysics: Computational Biophysical Tools and Methods that Require a

Pencil and Paper.............................................................................................................................................................................................. 315

Chapter 9 Emerging Biophysics Techniques: An Outlook of the Future Landscape of Biophysics Tools........................ 395

Index.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 435