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We demonstrate optical far-field super-resolution microscopy using an array of nitrogen vacancy centers in bulk diamond as near-field optical probes. The local optical field, which transmits through the nanostructures on the diamond surface, is measured by detecting the charge state conversion of the nitrogen vacancy center. Locating the nitrogen vacancy center with a spatial resolution of 6.1 nm is realized with charge state depletion nanoscopy. The nanostructures on the surface of a diamond are then imaged with a resolution below the optical diffraction limit. The results offer an approach to build a general-purpose optical super-resolution microscopy technique and a convenient platform for high spatial resolution quantum sensing with nitrogen vacancy centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-photon flux is one of the crucial properties of nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers in diamond for its application in quantum information techniques. Here we fabricate diamond conical nanowires to enhance the single-photon count rate. Through the interaction between tightly confined optical mode in nanowires and NV centers, the single-photon lifetime is much shortened and the collection efficiency is enhanced. As a result, the detected single-photon rate can be at 564 kcps, and the total detection coefficient can be 0.8%, which is much higher than that in bulk diamond. Such a nanowire single-photon device with high photon flux can be applied to improve the fidelity of quantum computation and the precision of quantum sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]