What is relay imaging?

Relay imaging is a type of optical imaging technique that uses a series of lenses or mirrors to transmit an image from one location to another. It is commonly used in microscopes, telescopes, and other precision optical instruments to enable the detection and analysis of small or distant objects.

In relay imaging, light is first collected and focused by an objective lens or mirror, which forms a real image at a certain distance from the lens. This image is then relayed to another lens or mirror system, which magnifies and projects it onto a detector such as a CCD camera or eyepiece.

The advantage of relay imaging is that it can provide high-quality, high-resolution images of small or distant objects without the need for physically moving the detector or object being imaged. This makes it a valuable tool for medical imaging, astronomy, and other fields where precision and accuracy are essential.