Theory
Optical Resolution
White light consists of electromagnetic waves, the period lengths of which total 400 to 700 nm.

It is important to know that:
1 mm = 1000 µm
1 µm = 1000 nm

Light of green color has a wavelength of 550 nm which
corresponds to 0.55 µm.

resolution resolution
ApertureIncreasing Resolution (1)
Increasing Resolution (2)
To enable two objectives to be compared, the “numerical aperture” has been defined: this is a measure of the solid angle covered by an objective.

The following definition is made:
N.A. = n · sin α

N.A. is the Numerical Aperture, α is half the opening angle of the objective and n the refractive index of the immersion medium used between the objective and the object. (n = 1 for air; n = 1.51 for oil or glass)

continue with: Measurement

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Further Details

Image Descriptions