Why is smaller the wavelength the better the resolution

To achieve the maximum theoretical resolution in a microscope system, each of the optical components should be of the highest NA available taking into consideration the angular aperture. In addition, using a shorter wavelength of light to view the specimen will increase the resolution.

Finally, the whole microscope system should be correctly aligned. Talk to our experts. We are happy to answer all your questions and concerns. Do you prefer personal consulting? You will find a more detailed list of local contacts here.

December 02, Story. Despite writing in a different scientific field, these observations are relevant to other optical systems and indeed, the microscope An Airy Disc is the optimally focussed point of light which can be determined by a circular aperture in a perfectly aligned system limited by diffraction.

Related Pages Objectivefinder. Binocular educational microscope for life science postdocs with 4 or 5 infinity-corrected or HI plan-achromat objectives and fluorescence capability. Interested to know more? Contact Us Do you prefer personal consulting? A good example of the wavelength vs. If you have a swimming pool with waves which are 1 meter apart a 1 meter wavelength and push a stick into the water, the pool's waves just pass around the stick because the 1 meter wavelength means that the pool's waves won't be affected by such a tiny target.

All particles have wave properties. So, when using a particle as a probe, we need to use particles with short wavelengths to get detailed information about small things. As a rough rule of thumb, a particle can only probe down to distances equal to the particle's wavelength. To probe down to smaller scales, the probe's wavelength has to be made smaller.

This is all a very hand-wavy explanation of a very difficult concept. To explain it completely would involve more math than we have space to get into. Numerical aperture determines the resolving power of an objective, the higher the numerical aperture of the system, the better the resolution.

When light from the various points of a specimen passes through the objective and an image is created, the various points in the specimen appear as small patterns in the image. These are known as Airy discs. The phenomenon is caused by diffraction of light as it passes through the circular aperture of the objective. Airy discs consist of small, concentric light and dark circles. The smaller the Airy discs projected by an objective in forming the image, the more detail of the specimen is discernible.

Objective lenses of higher numerical aperture are capable of producing smaller Airy discs, and therefore can distinguish finer detail in the specimen. Asked 9 years, 1 month ago. Active 9 years ago. Viewed 4k times.

Improve this question. Andreas Hagen Andreas Hagen 5 5 silver badges 16 16 bronze badges. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Improve this answer. McGarnagle 10 10 silver badges 20 20 bronze badges. But is there any reason it won't disturb the wave if the object is smaller? Is there any more basic terms that can be explained in? Could you elaborate on this please?