Editing Point spread function (section)

=== Microscopy ===
[[File:63x 1.4NA Confocal Point Spread Function 2+3D.png|thumb|An example of an experimentally derived point spread function from a confocal microscope using a 63x 1.4NA oil objective. It was generated using Huygens Professional deconvolution software. Shown are views in xz, xy, yz and a 3D representation.]]
In microscopy, experimental determination of PSF requires sub-resolution (point-like) radiating sources. [[Quantum dot]]s and [[fluorescent]] [[bead]]s are usually considered for this purpose.<ref>Light transmitted through minute holes in a thin layer of silver  vacuum or chemically deposited on a slide or cover-slip have also been used, as they are bright and do not photo-bleach.
{{cite book
 | title = Methods in Enzymology: Measuring biological responses with automated microscopy, Volume 414
 | chapter = Tracking individual proteins in living cells using single quantum dot imaging
 | editor = James Inglese
 | author1 = S. Courty
 | author2 = C. Bouzigues
 | author3 = C. Luccardini
 | author4 = M-V Ehrensperger
 | author5 = S. Bonneau
 | author6 = M. Dahan
 | name-list-style = amp
 | publisher = Academic Press
 | year = 2006
 | isbn = 978-0-12-182819-6
 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/methodsinenzymol414ingl/page/223 223–224]
 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5bczPeokiqAC&pg=PA223
 | url-access = registration
 | url = https://archive.org/details/methodsinenzymol414ingl/page/223
 }}</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
 | journal = Journal of Microscopy
 | title = The point-spread function of a confocal microscope: its measurement and use in deconvolution of 3-D data
 | author1=P. J. Shaw  |author2=D. J. Rawlins
 | name-list-style=amp | volume = 163
 | issue = 2
 | pages = 151–165
 | date = August 1991
 | doi=10.1111/j.1365-2818.1991.tb03168.x
 | s2cid = 95121909
 }}</ref> 
Theoretical models as described above, on the other hand, allow the detailed calculation of the PSF for various imaging conditions. The most compact [[diffraction limited]] shape of the PSF is usually preferred. However, by using appropriate optical elements (e.g., a [[spatial light modulator]]) the shape of the PSF can be engineered towards different applications.