Abstract

The distribution of photons resulting from a point image in a thin photographic emulsion is calculated using a simple diffusion equation; limits on the point spread functions and the corresponding modulation transfer functions (MTF) are derived. Published MTF curves are shown to lie between these limits. The calculated point spread functions are infinite at the origin, and the relation between such functions and small photographic images is discussed briefly.

© 1967 Optical Society of America

Approximation of the Sine-Wave Response of Photographic Emulsions

Dieter P. Paris
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 51(9) 988-991 (1961)

Optical Systems, Singularity Functions, Complex Hankel Transforms

A. Papoulis
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(2) 207-213 (1967)

Random Lorentz Band Model with Exponential-Tailed S⁻¹ Line-Intensity Distribution Function*

W. Malkmus
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(3) 323-329 (1967)

On the Point and Line Spread Functions of Photographic Images

R. Clark Jones
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 48(12) 934-937 (1958)

Detectability of Coherent Optical Signals in a Heterodyne Receiver

Carl W. Helstrom
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 57(3) 353-361 (1967)