Resolving Power of Optical Microscope
The resolving power of a microscope determines how far apart points can be seen separately. In the case of the Microscope, The resolving power is inversely proportional to the distance between the two objects. Its resolving power can also be determined by its resolving range. The resolution limit of a microscope is the shortest distance between two nearby objects when the images formed by the microscope are properly differentiated. The smaller the distance higher is the resolving power of the microscope. Using Ernst Abbe’s criterion, the resolution power of a microscope can be given by,
Δd = λ/(2nsinθ)
Here, the resolution Δd (smallest resolvable distance between two objects) of a microscope varies with the angular aperture.
Mathematically, the resolving power of an optical microscope can be given as:
Resolving Power = 1/Δd = (2nsinθ)/λ
where,
n is the refractive index of the medium
θ is the half-angle of the lens, which depends on the focal length and diameter of the lens.
λ wavelength of light
Resolving Power of a Microscope and Telescope
Wave optics, also known as Physical optics, deals with the study of various phenomena such as diffraction, polarization, interference, resolution, and other occurrences. Wave optics is the segment of optics that focuses on the study and behavior of light and its wave characteristics. Wave optics particularly describes the connection between waves and rays of light. According to the wave theory of light, light is a form of energy, it travels through a medium in the form of transverse wave motion. The speed of light traveling through a medium depends upon the nature of the medium.
Here, the approximation is carried out by using ray optics for the estimation of the field on a surface. Integrating ray-estimated field over a mirror, lens, or aperture for the calculation of the scattered or transmitted field also gets involved later on. Wave optics stands as a witness to the scientific study of understanding the nature of light. One is the particle nature of light and the other is the wave nature of light.
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