Resolution assessment of an imaging electro-optical sensor

The modulation transfer function and the corresponding point spread function is defined for an imaging system and the relation to detector size and optical aberration is explained. An analytical expression for the combined effect of pixel size and aberration is derived. The influence of motion, vibration and atmospheric turbulence on image quality is discussed and approximations, useful in experimental analysis are obtained. Finally, methods for evaluating system MTF is presented, using both tri-bar targets and the edge method.