Figure 3. Deconvolution improves the resolvability of adjacent point sources.

Here we plot the central cross-sectional profiles of an empirically measured point source, duplicated to simulate two adjoining point sources. Through the linear addition of intensity profiles after the two point sources were shifted in space, we demonstrate the improved resolution of the point sources after deconvolution. Note: 0 along the x axis denotes the center of the two point sources. (A) The centers are shifted by 1 pixel (100 nm) apart, and predictability one cannot resolve the two points in either case, because the centers occupy adjacent pixels. (B) The centers are shifted by 2 pixels (200 nm) apart, and now clearly the deconvolved point sources are resolvable. (C) The centers are shifted by 3 pixels (300 nm) apart. The situation is not different from the 2pixel shift. (D) The centers are shifted by 4 pixels (400 nm), and finally, the non-deconvolved point sources are resolvable. Thus, deconvolution decreases the threshold of resolvability for 4 pixel shift to 2 pixel shift.