individual molecules. However, it cannot be applied to biological assemblies because light
is generally blind to the spatial distribution of the component molecules. This insensitivity
arises from the mismatch in length scales between the assemblies (a few tens of nm) and
the wavelength of light required to excite chromophores (≥ 150 nm). Consequently, with
conventional spectroscopy, ordered assemblies, such as the icosahedral capsids of viruses …