Abstract

The maximum center-to-center angular spacing Δϕ of photoreceptors tolerated for reconstructing the highest spatial frequency passed by a diffraction-limited pupil of diameter D is Δϕ = λ/D √3 when the photoreceptors are packed in a hexagonal array, where λ is the wavelength in vacuum. This spacing gives the maximum signal-to-photon noise ratio when the inner segments touch. The mean luminance required for an eye to achieve its highest resolving power is independent of eye size, provided the retina is designed to sample the highest spatial frequency passed by the diffraction-limited optics.

© 1977 Optical Society of America

Speckle interferometry with severely aberrated telescopes

Douglas P. Karo and Arthur M. Schneiderman
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(9) 1277-1278 (1977)

Diffraction patterns of nonoverlapping circular grains

H. Stark
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(5) 700-703 (1977)

Cone interactions at high flicker frequencies: Evidence for cone latency differences?*

Bruce A. Drum
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(11) 1601-1603 (1977)

Variegated color sensations from rod-cone interactions: Flicker-fusion experiments

Jeanne L. Benton and John J. McCann
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(1) 119-121 (1977)

Spatial frequency and light-spread descriptions of visual acuity and hyperacuity

Gerald Westheimer
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(2) 207-212 (1977)