Airy pattern

A diffraction pattern consisting of a central circular maximum surrounded by a series of concentric rings of decreasing intensity formed when imaging a point source.

Related MicroscopyU Article

Numerical Aperture and Image Resolution

The image formed by a perfect, aberration-free objective lens at the intermediate image plane of a microscope is a diffraction pattern produced by spherical waves exiting the rear aperture and converging on the focal point. This tutorial explores the effects of objective numerical aperture on the resolution of the central bright disks present in the diffraction pattern, commonly known as Airy disks.