Spectral resolution

The spectral resolution of a spectrograph, or, more generally, of a frequency spectrum, is a measure of its ability to resolve features in the electromagnetic spectrum. It is usually denoted by ${\displaystyle \Delta \lambda }$, and is closely related to the resolving power of the spectrograph, defined as $${\displaystyle R={\frac {\lambda }{\Delta \lambda }},}$$ where ${\displaystyle \Delta \lambda }$ is the smallest difference in wavelengths that can be distinguished at a wavelength of ${\displaystyle \lambda }$. For example, the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) can distinguish features 0.17 nm apart at a wavelength of 1000 nm, giving it a resolution of 0.17 nm and a resolving power of about 5,900. An example of a high resolution spectrograph is the Cryogenic High-Resolution IR Echelle Spectrograph (CRIRES+) installed at ESO's Very Large Telescope, which has a spectral resolving power of up to 100,000.^[1]

The spectral resolution can also be expressed in terms of physical quantities, such as velocity; then it describes the difference between velocities ${\displaystyle \Delta v}$ that can be distinguished through the Doppler effect. Then, the resolution is ${\displaystyle \Delta v}$ and the resolving power is $${\displaystyle R={\frac {c}{\Delta v}},}$$ where ${\displaystyle c}$ is the speed of light. The STIS example above then has a spectral resolution of 51 km/s.

IUPAC defines resolution in optical spectroscopy as the minimum wavenumber, wavelength or frequency difference between two lines in a spectrum that can be distinguished.^[2] Resolving power, R, is given by the transition wavenumber, wavelength or frequency, divided by the resolution.^[3]

• Angular resolution
• Resolution (mass spectrometry)

• Kim Quijano, J., et al. (2003), STIS Instrument Handbook, Version 7.0, (Baltimore: STScI)
• Frank L. Pedrotti, S.J. (2007), Introduction to optics, 3rd version, (San Francisco)