Resolution of two unequally bright points with partially coherent light

Abstract

The resolution of two points having unequal intensity has been investigated under the partially coherent illumination by using the newly modified Sparrow criterion. The resolution is discussed as functions of the degree of spatial coherence of the illumination and the intensity difference of two object points. The critical resolution increases as the degree of coherence decreases, irrespective of the intensity difference of two points. As the difference between the two point intensities increases, the critical resolution decreases. The two ratios of the measurable to the real point separation and of the measurable maximum intensity to the real object intensity are studied in some detail as functions of the degree of coherence of the illumination and the difference of two point intensities.