Optimized localization-analysis for single-molecule tracking and super-resolution microscopy

We optimally localize isolated fluorescent beads and molecules imaged as diffraction-limited spots, determine the orientation of molecules, and present reliable formulae for the precisions of various localization methods. For beads, theory and experimental data both show that unweighted least-squares fitting of a Gaussian squanders one third of the available information, a popular formula for its precision exaggerates beyond Fisher's information limit, and weighted least-squares may do worse, while maximum likelihood fitting is practically optimal.