In bright sunlight a pupil constricts to

PHYSICS · Multi-part · Fermi University Physics · Optics & Photonics · Biophysics & Medical Physics · Geometrical optics and imaging

Forces, Machines and Signals, Ch Vision and photoreception: counting photons

Problem

d_p = 2.0\,\mathrm{mm}

. Take

\lambda = 555\,\mathrm{nm}

for the diffraction calculation. A standard eye test is read at a distance of

6\,\mathrm{m}

. ((a)) Find the Rayleigh diffraction limit of the eye at this pupil diameter, in minutes of arc. ((b)) Assuming resolution at this pupil size is set entirely by diffraction, find the smallest separation (in millimetres) between two features on the eye chart,

6\,\mathrm{m}

away, that could just be resolved.

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