Abstract
The three‐dimensional point spread function (3‐D PSF) of an optical system in image space is distinguished from the 3‐D PSF in object space and the relation between the two 3‐D PSFs is derived. By using this relation one 3‐D PSF can be easily obtained from the other. The 3‐D PSFs are given in a single integral expression, which can be computed numerically. The results of this study can be used in 3‐D image processing for microscopy and have been applied to the analysis of the diffusion of fluorescent molecules in a 3‐D porous medium.

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