With lateral resolution _____ beams have better resolution.

With lateral resolution _____ beams have better resolution.

• A. Wider
• B. Narrower
• C. Intermittent
• D. Divergent

Answer: (B)

Lateral resolution depends on the beam width across the image plane. A narrower beam creates a smaller lateral footprint, so two closely spaced objects side by side are more likely to be seen as separate structures. If the beam is wide, that footprint covers a larger area and nearby features blur together, reducing lateral resolution. The best lateral resolution occurs near the focal point where the beam is narrowest; as the beam diverges with depth, resolution worsens. Intermittent beams aren’t relevant, and divergent beams generally degrade lateral resolution as they widen. So beams that are narrower have better lateral resolution.

Lateral resolution depends on the beam width across the image plane. A narrower beam creates a smaller lateral footprint, so two closely spaced objects side by side are more likely to be seen as separate structures. If the beam is wide, that footprint covers a larger area and nearby features blur together, reducing lateral resolution. The best lateral resolution occurs near the focal point where the beam is narrowest; as the beam diverges with depth, resolution worsens. Intermittent beams aren’t relevant, and divergent beams generally degrade lateral resolution as they widen. So beams that are narrower have better lateral resolution.