Resolution of Two Unequally Bright Points of Apodized Optical Systems with Asymmetric Circular Antenna Arrays

Abstract

Sparrow criterion of resolution is used for assessment of the resolution of two object points of apodized optical systems under incoherent illumination of light. Semicircular arrays of circular aperture with discrete asymmetric apodization have suppressed side-lobes and a narrower central peak in the image plane termed as PSF good side on alternatively the right and left of the strong spectral point facilitates to detect the presence of weak spectral point in the vicinity of bright spectral point. The results of investigations on optimum discrete pupil function with semicircular arrays on the intensity distributions in the composite image of two object points with widely varying in their intensities under various degree of coherence of illumination have been studied. Sparrow resolution limits and the dip in central intensity as function of degree of coherence of the illumination (γ), intensity ratio (α), degree of asymmetric apodization (b) and number of discrete elements in semicircular array (n). The efficiency of aperture functions is discussed in terms of these parameters. Pupil function capabilities in redistribution of energy in composite image of two object points in close vicinity have been verified for different considerations. Current study has found an improvement in two-point resolution characteristics compared to their unapodized counter part. Fourier analytical properties of an optical system are presented for evaluation of this practical problem.