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Airy point-spread function and Strehl ratio

What you are seeing: the Airy PSF for a circular aperture; the first null at 1.22λ/D1.22 \lambda / D. With rms wavefront error σ\sigma, the Strehl ratio drops as S=e(2πσ)2S = e^{-(2\pi\sigma)^2} (Maréchal). The standard "diffraction-limited" criterion is S>0.8S \gt 0.8.

Figure 1. 2D Airy PSF (left), radial cut + Strehl (right).
λ (nm)650
D (m)8.0
σ_RMS (λ)0.05

WHAT TO TRY

  • Vary each control and watch the rail readouts respond.
  • Compare the diagnostic plot against the live scene.