How Does Wave Broadening Affect Amplitude in Dispersive Media?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relationship between wave broadening and amplitude in dispersive media, exploring concepts related to wave periodicity, pulse shape, and spectrum changes. Participants delve into theoretical aspects and implications of dispersion on wave behavior.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions how a wave can maintain the same amplitude while broadening.
  • Another participant suggests that periodicity allows different frequency waves to combine into the same wave shape, although they acknowledge that the amplitude of a pulse can change.
  • A participant explains that a pulse consists of traveling sine waves, and in dispersive media, these waves travel at different speeds, leading to changes in pulse shape while the overall mixture remains the same.
  • There is a discussion about the relationship between pulse shape and spectrum, indicating that for the pulse shape to remain unchanged in dispersive media, the spectrum must change.
  • A participant expresses gratitude and seeks clarification on the implications of changing spectra while maintaining the same time pulse, indicating a desire to understand the nuances of the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying interpretations of how wave broadening affects amplitude and pulse shape, indicating that multiple competing views remain and the discussion is not resolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific concepts such as self-modulation and dispersion, but the discussion lacks clarity on definitions and assumptions regarding wave behavior in dispersive media.

eahaidar
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I want to ask how does the wave keep the same amplitude if the wave broadens ?
Thank you for your time
 
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Simon Bridge said:
The periodicity of the waves means that as the different frequency waves spread out, they will still add up to the same wave shape. But for a pulse, the amplitude does change.
http://www.acs.psu.edu/drussell/Demos/Dispersion/dispersion.html

Thank u I was watching a lecture about self modulation and dispersion I just having a hard time understanding what do they mean when they say pulse shape changes while the spectrum remains the same with distance and vice versa can u elaborate on that ?
Thank you so much
 
The pulse is made of traveling sine waves.
The particular mix of sine waves that go to make the pulse is it's spectrum.

In a dispersive media, the different sine waves travel at different speeds - making the pulse change shape - but the mixture is still the same because the individual sine waves go through all space.

But I'd have to see the comment in context to figure what they mean.

The vice versa of "the pulse shape changes while the spectrum stays the same" would be

"the spectrum changes while the pulse shape stays the same"

... for the pulse shape to stay the same, in a dispersive media, the spectrum must change.
 
Simon Bridge said:
The pulse is made of traveling sine waves.
The particular mix of sine waves that go to make the pulse is it's spectrum.

In a dispersive media, the different sine waves travel at different speeds - making the pulse change shape - but the mixture is still the same because the individual sine waves go through all space.

But I'd have to see the comment in context to figure what they mean.

The vice versa of "the pulse shape changes while the spectrum stays the same" would be

"the spectrum changes while the pulse shape stays the same"

... for the pulse shape to stay the same, in a dispersive media, the spectrum must change.

You are amazing man I really want to thank you so in SPM the spectrum changes while the time pulse stays the same means. That the even though the summation of the pulses is changing the pulses traveling would stay the same?
Thank you so much I hope I understood u correctly
 

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