diffraction-limited imaging

Diffraction-limited imaging refers to the maximum achievable sharpness of an optical system, such as a telescope or microscope, dictated by the fundamental physics of light. When light passes through a lens or aperture, it bends and spreads out, creating a pattern called a diffraction pattern. This sets a limit on the smallest detail the system can resolve; even with perfect optics and no imperfections, the image quality cannot be better than this limit. In essence, diffraction limits define the ultimate resolving power of an optical instrument due to the wave nature of light.