How Do Diffraction and Interference Affect Microscopes and Telescopes?

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Diffraction and interference are critical phenomena affecting the performance of microscopes and telescopes. In microscopes, diffraction limits the resolution, while telescopes primarily experience interference when light from multiple sources is combined. The discussion highlights that diffraction encompasses all light propagation, with interference being a specific case involving coherent sources. The mathematical analysis of these effects varies, with interference often being simpler due to the discrete nature of the sources involved. Understanding these concepts is essential for optimizing the functionality of optical instruments.
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How in microscope there is a phenomena of differaction, and in case of telescope there is interference of light happens ?
 
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Diffraction and interference are related concepts, and you have both in both tools (and everywhere else where light is propagating).
I am not sure what exactly you are asking.
 
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HNM said:
How in microscope there is a phenomena of differaction, and in case of telescope there is interference of light happens ?

The normal terminology for the limit of resolution of a telescope is 'diffraction limit'. I wonder whether you are bringing in the idea of interference in the context of multiple telescope arrays.

'Everything' is diffraction, when you get down to it. Interference is a simple example of diffraction where a finite number of small coherent sources are involved. The Maths involved is usually somewhat simpler when you can treat a problem in terms of interference as you are Summing a small number of discrete sources rather than Integrating over a continuous aperture, when analysing diffraction.
 
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