The criterion by which adjacent lines or rings of equal intensity in a diffraction pattern are regarded as resolved when the central maximum of one coincides with the first minimum of the next.
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Transactions Optical Society.
Definition of Rayleigh criterion in US English:
Rayleigh criterion
(also Rayleigh's criterion)
noun
Physics
The criterion by which adjacent lines or rings of equal intensity in a diffraction pattern are regarded as resolved when the central maximum of one coincides with the first minimum of the next.
Origin
Early 20th century; earliest use found in Transactions Optical Society.