New Reply

Splitting light into colors, mathematical expression (fourier transforms)

 
Share Thread Thread Tools
Dec4-12, 07:58 PM   #1
 

Splitting light into colors, mathematical expression (fourier transforms)


I am trying to solve a problem that includes a function of the light hitting a certain area. My question is, how would I change a function G(x) of photons hitting a certain area to include just photons of a certain wavelength, say red light. I feel like this could be accomplished using a fourier transform and de broglie's law, but I'm not sure. Can someone please help, just for a general gaussian function G(x)?
PhysOrg.com
PhysOrg
physics news on PhysOrg.com

>> As chaos celebrates its 50th birthday, biophysicist develops a new method to visualize it
>> Novel features of helium-3 superfluidity discovered with new SQUID detector chip
>> Physics of 'green waves' could make city traffic flow more smoothly
Dec4-12, 09:02 PM   #2
 
What does this function represent? It may help if you post more detailed specification of your problem.
Dec5-12, 04:54 PM   #3
 
Basically, given a function that gives the number of photons hitting a certain area, I want a mathematical way to determine how many of those photons are of a specific frequency (such as red light).
Dec5-12, 05:07 PM   #4
 

Splitting light into colors, mathematical expression (fourier transforms)


Quote by FordDJ22 View Post
Basically, given a function that gives the number of photons hitting a certain area, I want a mathematical way to determine how many of those photons are of a specific frequency (such as red light).
I don't think you can get that distribution simply from the number of photons hitting the area. One thing does not lead to another. You can perfectly have N photons with all kinds of different frequency distribution.
You mentioned Fourier Transform, yes, it does transform between time domain to frequency domain, but here the "frequency" has a different meaning than what you might have in mind (it means the spatial periodicity of the underlying time-domain function, not the frequency of the EM wave)
Dec5-12, 05:31 PM   #5
 
Quote by cattlecattle View Post
I don't think you can get that distribution simply from the number of photons hitting the area. One thing does not lead to another. You can perfectly have N photons with all kinds of different frequency distribution.
You mentioned Fourier Transform, yes, it does transform between time domain to frequency domain, but here the "frequency" has a different meaning than what you might have in mind (it means the spatial periodicity of the underlying time-domain function, not the frequency of the EM wave)
Ok, then how would this look specifically for a Gaussian slit experiment? Does that give the frequency distribution you were looking for?
New Reply
Thread Tools


Similar Threads for: Splitting light into colors, mathematical expression (fourier transforms)
Thread Forum Replies
Man gets mugged, transforms into mathematical savant? General Discussion 26
Splitting fractional expression into real/imaginary parts Calculus & Beyond Homework 4
from Fourier Series to Fourier Transforms Calculus 5
Need help to find application of the Fourier series and Fourier Transforms! Introductory Physics Homework 8
Fourier transforms Advanced Physics Homework 0