Super-resolving single nitrogen vacancy centers within single nanodiamonds using a localization microscope

In this paper, we show super-resolving single nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers with a sub-20 nanometer resolution in a wide-field localization microscope based on the discovery of photoluminescence blinking in high-pressure high-temperature nanodiamonds (NDs). The photon statistics reveals that NDs containing not only single but also multiple NV centers show photoluminescence blinking. The combination of an atomic force microscope and an optical localization microscope built on the blinking feature enables the optically resolved two NV centers within single NDs for the first time. Our method establishes new avenues for studying nanoscale photon dynamics associated with single NV centers within NDs together with ND-based ultra-sensitive bioimaging devices.