Sub-10 nanometer fluorescence imaging

A system configured to image one or more cells, the system comprising:

• a holder configured to receive dye labeled, transfected one or more cells;
• an energy source configured to excite the dye of the dye labeled, transfected one or more cells;
• an imaging sensor configured to image one or more portions of the dye labeled, transfected one or more cells, for a predetermined exposure time, a plurality of times to form a plurality of images;
• an excitation light energy source configured to apply a pulsed, excitation light energy to the dye labeled, transfected one or more cells;
• an emission energy sensor configured to measure an emission energy from the excited, transfected one or more cells;
• and
• a processor comprising hardware, the processor configured to:
• classify each image of the plurality of images into a first group of images above a predetermined threshold for a number of photons per image or a second group of images below the predetermined threshold the number of photons per image;
• analyze the first group of images to track locations of the one or more portions for each of the first group of images and to track a fluorescence trajectory of each photon in the first group of images;
• determine an inside number of images of the first group of images within the predetermined tracking radius and an outside number of images of the first group of images external to the predetermined tracking radius;
• and
• determine whether the emission energy is from one or more independently emitting quantum systems based on the measured emission, the tracked locations of the first group of images and the fluorescence trajectory.