Thank you both for your thoughts and (further) suggestions. I will order a copy of Goodman and try to work through the 'simple' case of the point object at the focus of a parabolic mirror which may indeed be a good place to start. I cannot answer the question about point to point vs. 'entire...
Hi Chales Link
Thank you very much for your thought provoking comments and link to the beautifully clear analysis of the point source ‘image’ formed by a parabolic mirror. If I understand it correctly this ‘image’ is what is often loosely described as the Point Spread Function (PSF) of the...
I have been attempting to unravel Abbe’s theory, of the role of diffraction in microscopic vision, in a ‘nuts and bolts’ sort of way, meaning in terms that I can understand: diffraction, interference and so on. While Fourier transforms are clearly at the heart of the process the assertion that...
Hi All. My interests in physics are to do with light (born of microscope use, born of bryology, born of dog walking). Seems like I've stumbled across quite a little hotbed of expertise here: happy new year to you all!