Enhancing diffraction-limited images using properties of the point spread function

We propose an algorithm to enhance diffraction-limited images based on pixel-to-pixel correlations introduced by the finite width of the Point Spread Function (PSF). We simulate diffraction-limited images of point sources by convolving the PSF of a diffraction-limited lens with simulated images, and enhance the blurred images with our algorithm. Our algorithm reduces the PSF width, increases the contrast, and reveals structure on a length scale half of that resolvable in the unenhanced image. Our enhanced images compare favorably with images enhanced by conventional Tikhonov regularization.