Performance Constraints on the MCS Superresolution Algorithm

In previous work we have demonstrated the ability of the algorithm developed by Magain, Courbin, and Sohy (MCS, ApJ 2008 (1)) to resolve point sources and filamentary extended sources that have positions closer than the traditional 1.22λ/D diffraction limit of an optical system. The efficacy of the technique depends on a number of factors, including the signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), the 'blackness' of the overall image, knowledge of the original system point response function, etc. In this paper we explore the effect of these parameters on the results of the algorithm to determine the point at which the positions and amplitudes of sources reconstructed using the MCS algorithm become unreliable.