Spatial-Filter Pinhole
Calculate an Airy-diameter spatial-filter pinhole size with relay magnification.
Description
An Airy-diameter pinhole estimate uses wavelength and objective f-number.
An Airy-diameter pinhole estimate uses wavelength and objective f-number. Relay magnification scales that diameter at the pinhole plane.1
Calculate an Airy-diameter spatial-filter pinhole size with relay magnification.
When to use Spatial-Filter Pinhole
Use this tool to calculate an Airy-diameter spatial-filter pinhole size with relay magnification.
Prepare the optical measurements, geometry, fitted coefficients or caller-selected thresholds requested. Confirm wavelength, radius/diameter, pulse-width, angle and unit conventions before running the calculation.
How to use Spatial-Filter Pinhole and understand its results
- Prepare the optical measurements, geometry, fitted coefficients or caller-selected thresholds requested. Confirm wavelength, radius/diameter, pulse-width, angle and unit conventions before running the calculation.
- Enter wavelengthNanometers, objectiveFNumber, relayMagnification using the field table and calculation rules, then run the tool.
- Read airyDiameterMicrometers, pinholeDiameterMicrometers. The explanation below defines the units, signs, ordering and any flags or placeholder values.
- If the tool reports an input issue, correct the values and run it again. Apply the stated assumptions when interpreting a successfully returned result.
| Input field | Meaning | Value type; see rules below | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| wavelengthNanometers | Wavelength (nm) | number; minimum: 0 | Required |
| objectiveFNumber | Objective f-number | number; minimum: 0 | Required |
| relayMagnification | Relay magnification | number; minimum: 0 | Required |
Enter nonnegative wavelength/magnification and positive f-number. Return both diameters in µm.
AiryDiameter_µm=2.44λ_nm fNumber/1000; pinhole=AiryDiameter×magnification Units, indexing, boundary conditions and exceptional cases are defined in the calculation rules above.
| Output field | Meaning | Value type |
|---|---|---|
| airyDiameterMicrometers | Airy diameter at focus (µm) | number; minimum: 0 |
| pinholeDiameterMicrometers | Magnified Airy pinhole diameter (µm) | number; minimum: 0 |
{
"input": {
"wavelengthNanometers": 500,
"objectiveFNumber": 4,
"relayMagnification": 10
},
"output": {
"airyDiameterMicrometers": 4.88,
"pinholeDiameterMicrometers": 48.8
}
}Limitations and assumptions
No aberration, alignment, Gaussian-beam optimization or transmitted-power estimate is included.
Numeric inputs must be finite. Follow the calculation-specific rules for overflow, underflow and exceptional cases. Missing required fields, extra fields, wrong value types and violations of the calculation rules are input errors.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Use Confocal Lateral Resolution: Estimate confocal lateral FWHM and a simple finite-pinhole adjustment. For a complementary task, use Focused-Beam Waist Location: Propagate a Gaussian beam q parameter through a thin lens to locate the new waist.
References
-
Spatial-Filter Pinhole — tool.io
Similar or alternative tools
- Confocal Lateral Resolution
Estimate confocal lateral FWHM and a simple finite-pinhole adjustment.
- Focused-Beam Waist Location
Propagate a Gaussian beam q parameter through a thin lens to locate the new waist.