Diffraction-limited resolution

Diffraction-limited resolution refers to the maximum clarity a microscope or telescope can achieve due to the bending of light as it passes through openings or around objects. When light waves encounter small details, they spread out, creating a limit to how sharply we can distinguish two close points. This fundamental boundary, set by the physics of light, means no instrument can see detail finer than this limit, known as the diffraction limit. Improving resolution beyond this point requires changing the physics of light or using advanced techniques, but fundamentally, diffraction limits how detailed our images can be.