- #1
pibomb
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Hello,
What is the dirac delta function and how is it different from a probability distribution?
What is the dirac delta function and how is it different from a probability distribution?
Rach3 said:A Dirac Delta is a mathematical object; it's a legitimate probability distribution as well (just like a Gaussian is a function, but can also be applied as a probability distribution). It represents the trivial probability distribution, with a nonzero probability for exactly one outcome.
He said probability distribution, not probability density function.it isn't a legitimate probability distribution because it has a value of infinity at the non zero point.
pibomb said:If the function has zero width than does that mean it yields only one probability? Doesn't this disagree with quantum laws?
pibomb said:If the function has zero width than does that mean it yields only one probability? Doesn't this disagree with quantum laws?
You answered your own question: (I've added emphasis)Why can't it be a PDF?
A PDF is defined as a function f(x) ...
Hurkyl said:You answered your own question: (I've added emphasis)
Hurkyl said:Short answer: what is [itex]\delta(0)[/itex]?
The Dirac Delta Function is a mathematical function that represents a point mass or spike at a specific point in space, while a probability distribution describes the likelihood of a random variable taking on certain values. In other words, the Dirac Delta Function is a specific case of a probability distribution where all the probability mass is concentrated at a single point.
The Dirac Delta Function is commonly used in physics and engineering to model point sources, such as point particles in mechanics or point charges in electromagnetism. It is also used to solve differential equations and in signal processing to represent impulse functions.
No, the Dirac Delta Function cannot be integrated like a regular function because it is not defined at any point except for the point where it has a spike. However, it can be integrated as part of an integral with other functions, known as the Dirac Delta Function's sifting property.
The Dirac Delta Function is a continuous function while the Kronecker Delta Function is a discrete function. They both represent the concentration of a value at a specific point, but the Dirac Delta Function is used for continuous variables while the Kronecker Delta Function is used for discrete variables.
Yes, the Dirac Delta Function has many practical applications in fields such as signal processing, quantum mechanics, and control theory. It is also used in image and audio processing to sharpen and enhance certain features. Additionally, it is used in probability theory to model point processes and in statistics to represent point estimates.