beugungsunschärfe

Beugungsunschärfe, also known as diffraction blur, is an optical phenomenon that limits the resolution of imaging systems. It occurs when light waves encounter an aperture or an obstacle, causing them to spread out and interfere with each other. This spreading, or diffraction, causes the image of a point source of light to appear not as a perfect point, but as a disc surrounded by faint rings.

The extent of beugungsunschärfe is directly related to the wavelength of light and inversely related to the diameter of the aperture. Shorter wavelengths of light and larger apertures result in less beugungsunschärfe and therefore higher potential resolution. Conversely, longer wavelengths and smaller apertures lead to more significant beugungsunschärfe and reduced resolution.

In practical terms, beugungsunschärfe sets a fundamental limit on how finely detail can be resolved, regardless of the quality of lenses or the sensitivity of the detector. This is a critical consideration in the design of optical instruments such as telescopes, microscopes, and cameras. The phenomenon is described by the Abbe diffraction limit, which quantifies the theoretical maximum resolution achievable by an optical system. Minimizing beugungsunschärfe is a primary goal in optics, often achieved through the use of larger objective lenses and shorter wavelengths of illumination where possible.