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©1990-2002 J.Paul Robinson, Purdue University
Numerical Aperture
For a narrow light
beam (i.e. closed illumination aperture diaphragm) the finest resolution is (at the brightest
point of the visible spectrum
i.e. 530 nm)
(closed condenser).
NA
2 x NA
.00053
2 x 1.00
= 0.265 m
.00053
1.00
= 0.53 m
With a cone of light filling the entire aperture the theoretical resolution is
(fully open condenser)..
=
=
