How does a longer range of travel for a positron before annihilation affect resolution?

A longer range of travel for a positron before annihilation results in a decrease in resolution. Resolution in imaging refers to the ability to distinguish between two closely spaced objects. When a positron travels further before it encounters an electron and annihilates, it creates a more spread-out depiction of the annihilation photography on the detectors. This blurring effect diminishes the precision of image localization, resulting in a lower spatial resolution.

As a consequence, structures that are closely placed may not be resolved clearly, leading to images that appear less defined. This is particularly significant in PET imaging, where accurate spatial representation is crucial for diagnosing and treating various conditions. Hence, an increased travel distance of a positron negatively influences the clarity with which features in the image can be perceived by the observer or interpreted by software algorithms.