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Concepts and Criteria of Resolution

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Superresolution Optical Microscopy

Part of the book series: Springer Series in Optical Sciences ((SSOS,volume 227))

Abstract

In the first chapter I defined the terms resolution, contrast , and magnification. I contrasted the terms resolution and magnification. I stressed the synergy between resolution and contrast in the microscope. In this chapter I discuss the various definitions and concepts that are used as metrics of resolution. In addition, I introduce some topics from physical optics and others from information theory that lead to a deeper understanding of the concept of resolution. I will answer the following questions about optical resolution and resolving power : What is resolution? How do we measure resolution? What limits resolution and what confounds our concepts and understanding of it? Then, I segue from a discussion of resolution concepts to the concept of superresolution, the content of Part III of this book.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Previously, Visiting Scientist Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Barry R. Masters

  2. Previously, Visiting Scholar Department of the History of Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    Barry R. Masters

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Masters, B.R. (2020). Concepts and Criteria of Resolution. In: Superresolution Optical Microscopy. Springer Series in Optical Sciences, vol 227. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21691-7_2

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