Q5Engineering Physics
Question
2 marks
State Rayleigh's criterion of resolution.
Answer
Rayleigh's criterion states that two point sources are just resolved when the principal maximum of the diffraction pattern of one coincides with the first minimum of the other.
Rayleigh's criterion defines the limit of resolution for optical instruments like telescopes and microscopes.
Conditions
- Just Resolved: The central maximum of source falls on the first minimum of source .
- Well Resolved: The central maxima are further apart than the first minima.
- Unresolved: The central maxima are closer than the first minima, appearing as a single blurred image.
Where is the wavelength and is the diameter of the aperture.