Microdensitometer Optical Performance: Scalar Theory and Experiment

The scalar theory of microdensitometer performance developed in previous papers is revised and expanded to include coherent illumination. The central ideas of scalar microdensitometry are combined from several basic sources and summarized ; this paper serves as a convenient single source of microdensitometer theory. Eight distinct variations of instrument configuration and operation are identified, and the image characteristics and conditions for linear microdensitometry are developed for each. The concept of effective incoherence is summarized and discussed. Further consideration of the problems associated with aperture sizes, determination of the sampling aperture size and image vs sample scanning are presented. An experimental test program, carried out with the Mann-Data Microanalyzer, by experienced operators, under closely controlled conditions to test the theory, is reported. Among the conclusions is that the instrument manifests its best performance with overfilled optics and sample scanning, and that an increased reduction factor on the influx side would be useful with image scanning. Several fundamental problems surface during the course of the investigation. These are discussed and the need for further study in certain areas is emphasized.