Simulation-Based Considerations on the Rayleigh Criterion in Super-Resolution Techniques Based on Speckle Interferometry

Abstract

This study sought to explain the physical phenomenon that eludes the constraints of the Rayleigh criterion in the microstructure observation method using speckle interferometry, for which super-resolution has been experimentally proven; the study was conducted using computer simulations. Separating the light from two light sources in close proximity, which exceeded the Rayleigh criterion under incoherent light, was believed to be impossible. The simulation results, however, showed that when coherent light is used, the separation of two close points is not necessarily impossible if the light phases between the two points are different. Furthermore, the resolution of microstructure observation techniques based on speckle interferometry was discussed. A new interpretation of the Rayleigh criterion in super-resolution techniques based on speckle interferometry was reported.