Localising two sub-diffraction emitters in 3D using quantum correlation microscopy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that quantum correlation microscopy can achieve diffraction-unlimited 3D localisation of two emitters within a single diffraction-limited spot, using a novel two-stage maximum likelihood estimator and minimal measurement locations.

Contribution

It introduces a method for 3D localisation of two emitters using quantum correlation microscopy, a technique not previously applied to 3D problems, with a new estimator improving precision.

Findings

Localisation precision scales as 1/√t with detection time.

Diffraction-unlimited localisation achieved with minimal measurement locations.

Quantum correlation microscopy enables 3D localisation of two emitters.

Abstract

The localisation of fluorophores is an important aspect of the determination of the biological function of cellular systems. Quantum correlation microscopy (QCM) is a promising technique for providing diffraction unlimited emitter localisation that can be used with either confocal or widefield modalities. However, so far, QCM has not been applied to three dimensional localisation problems. Here we show that quantum correlation microscopy provides diffraction-unlimited three-dimensional localisation for two emitters within a single diffraction-limited spot. By introducing a two-stage maximum likelihood estimator, our modelling shows that localisation precision scales as $1/\sqrt{t}$ where $t$ is the total detection time. Diffraction unlimited localisation is achieved using both intensity and photon correlation from Hanbury Brown and Twiss measurements at as few as four measurement locations.