Direct‐view microscopy: experimental investigation of the dependence of the optical sectioning characteristics on pinhole‐array configuration

We present a comparison between theoretical and experimental results for the axial response to a plane mirror specimen of the direct‐view microscope employing multiple‐pinhole arrays. The effects of pinhole size, pinhole spacing and array geometry are investigated in detail with a view to (i) achieving good optical sectioning characteristics and (ii) maximizing the amount of light available for imaging. The implications of our results for practical systems as regards pinhole‐array design and fabrication are also discussed.