Super-resolution Localization of Nitrogen Vacancy Centers in Diamond with Quantum Controlled Photoswitching

TL;DR

This paper introduces a quantum-controlled photoswitching technique for super-resolution localization of nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond, achieving subnanometer precision for potential quantum computing applications.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel fluorescence photoswitching method based on quantum phase encoding, enabling super-resolution imaging with unprecedented accuracy.

Findings

Localization accuracy better than 1.4 nm

Achieved resolution of 0.15 nm under experimental conditions

Quantum phase encoding significantly enhances resolution

Abstract

We demonstrate the super-resolution localization of the nitrogen vacancy centers in diamond by a novel fluorescence photoswitching technique based on coherent quantum control. The photoswitching is realized by the quantum phase encoding based on pulsed magnetic field gradient. Then we perform super-resolution imaging and achieve a localizing accuracy better than 1.4 nm under a scanning confocal microscope. Finally, we show that the quantum phase encoding plays a dominant role on the resolution, and a resolution of 0.15 nm is achievable under our current experimental condition. This method can be applied in subnanometer scale addressing and control of qubits based on multiple coupled defect spins.