Does Higher Spatial Frequency and Sigma Improve Optical System Resolution?

[physicist888]

in an optical system, there's what they call coherence term. its symbolised by sigma. there's a relation between the spatial frequency and this term.
if an optical system has a big sigma it will had then a better resolution? or what?
and what's the relation between the spatial frequency and the resolution?

 

[Claude Bile]

and what's the relation between the spatial frequency and the resolution?

The maximum resolution you can get fundamentally is the maximum spatial frequency you can capture. The operative term you should keep in mind here is maximum, there a lots of other things that can degrade resolution.

Claude.

 

[charng]

I can provide some insights on the concept of spatial frequency-coherence in optical systems. First of all, coherence refers to the degree of correlation between two waves. In an optical system, this coherence is represented by the symbol sigma (σ). A larger value of sigma indicates a higher degree of coherence, meaning that the waves are more closely related.

Now, let's consider the relation between spatial frequency and coherence. Spatial frequency refers to the number of cycles of a wave that occur in a unit distance. In an optical system, this can refer to the number of light and dark bands in an image. The higher the spatial frequency, the more closely packed these bands are. This also means that the waves in the image have a higher frequency.

So, how does spatial frequency affect resolution? In simple terms, resolution refers to the ability of an optical system to distinguish between two closely spaced objects. In an optical system with a larger sigma, the waves are more coherent and closely related. This can result in a clearer and more defined image, allowing for better resolution and the ability to distinguish between closely spaced objects. On the other hand, a smaller sigma can lead to less coherent waves and a lower resolution.

To summarize, there is a direct relation between spatial frequency and coherence in an optical system. A higher spatial frequency can result in a larger sigma and therefore, better resolution. However, it is important to note that other factors such as the quality of the optical components, the wavelength of light, and the design of the system also play a role in determining the resolution.