In accordance with the Rayleigh criterion,two points can be just resolved if the centers of their diffraction patterns are separated by
A)one wavelength.
B)twice the width of either central maximum.
C)one-half the width of either central maximum.
D)the width of the aperture.
E)the reciprocal of one wavelength.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to the Rayleigh criterion, two points are just resolved when the center of one diffraction pattern falls on the first minimum of the other. This corresponds to a separation of one-half the width of the central maximum.

In Accordance with the Rayleigh Criterion,two Points Can Be Just