Signal to noise ratio and uncertainty in magnitude

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the uncertainty in observed magnitude due to signal and noise in stellar flux measurements. It establishes that the uncertainty on the observed magnitude can be expressed as σm = 1.0875 x σf / f, where σf is the noise and f is the signal. Participants are encouraged to demonstrate their problem-solving approaches, starting with the relationship between signal and noise. The conversation also touches on methods for calculating uncertainty, including the use of approximations when ε is small. Overall, the thread emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between signal, noise, and uncertainty in astronomical measurements.
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Poster has been reminded that they need to show their work
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known dat
Show that if you have a signal f and noise σf for a stellar flux measurement, then the uncertainty on the observed magnitude is given by
σm = 1.0875 x σf / f

Homework Equations


(you should use the fact that when ε<<1 then log(1±ε) ≈ ε/ln10 ).

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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You should show some attempt at the problem in this forum.
Start with: let signal + noise be ##f + \sigma_f = f(1 + \frac{\sigma_f}{f} )##
Do you know how to calculate the uncertainty?
 
RUber said:
You should show some attempt at the problem in this forum.
Start with: let signal + noise be ##f + \sigma_f = f(1 + \frac{\sigma_f}{f} )##
Do you know how to calculate the uncertainty?
Uncertainty in (1 + σf/f) = √((δσff)2 + (δf/f)2)
?
or uncertainty in f + σf =√(δσf)2 + (δf)2
 
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