THE LIMITATIONS IN RESOLUTION AND DISCRIMINATION IN BRIGHTNESS DIFFERENCES FOR LIGHT AMPLIFIER SYSTEMS USING CONTRAST ENHANCEMENT

摘要

The ultimate limitations in resolution and discrimination of brightness differences, determined by the quantum nature of light, at low light level observations with a light amplifier imaging system using contrast enhancement are treated herein. Simple equations are derived and the limiting situations are displayed by several, graphs. The resolution achieved with an experimental tube is compared with the theoretically possible resolution. The low light level performance in contrast discrimination of the unaided human eye is inferior in comparison to the theoretical limitations of a light amplifier system that is possible by the present state-of-the-art.