Circular Apertures and Resolution

Circular Apertures and Resolution

The Rayleigh Criterion says that two far-away objects can be resolved if the central maximum of one diffraction pattern corresponds to the first minimum of the other.

The minimum resolved angle is:
 sin⁡θ=1.22 λD \boxed { \ \sin\theta=1.22 \ \dfrac{\lambda}{D} \ } sinθ=1.22 Dλ​ ​

where DDD is the diameter of the circular aperture.

Wize Concept
To improve the resolution (that is, to decrease the angle θ\thetaθ ), either increase the aperture DDD, or reduce the λ\lambdaλ.

Practice: Improving Resolving Power

Which of the following actions will improve the resolving power of a microscope?

A) Use light of a longer wavelength

B) Use light of a shorter wavelength

C) Use light of a higher frequency

D) Use light of a lower frequency

E) Increase the diameter of the lens

F) Decrease the diameter of the lens

I don't know

Wize University Physics Textbook (Master) > Wave Optics

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Circular Apertures and Resolution

Practice: Improving Resolving Power