Tobias K. Herman, Stephan A. Mackowiak, and Laura J. Kaufman. Columbia University, New York, NY
We are investigating the rotational dynamics of single fluorescent molecules in supercooled liquids near the glass transition to elucidate the presumed heterogeneous dynamics in these systems. We have collected preliminary data on the behavior of rubrene, and of nile red, in glycerol. These data show a broad range of diffusion times, demonstrating that these probes experience at least a subset of the heterogeneities in supercooled glycerol. Furthermore, a subset of molecules appear to exhibit changes in dynamics, possibly related to exchange of local environment.