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    Bandwidth Theorem

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    Joel
    The bandwidth theorem states that the product of the spread in frequency (∆f) and time (∆t) must be greater than or equal to 1, written as ∆f∆t ≥ 1. This fundamental limit applies to all waves, including particle waves in quantum mechanics. It implies that any wave phenomenon that occurs over a time interval ∆t must have a frequency spread of at least 1/∆t. The theorem also applies when considering the spread in wavenumber (∆k) and space (∆x), such that ∆k∆x ≥ 2π. In quantum mechanics, the bandwidth theorem is equivalent to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where ∆p

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    Bandwidth Theorem

    Uploaded by

    Joel
    2K views9 pages
    The bandwidth theorem states that the product of the spread in frequency (∆f) and time (∆t) must be greater than or equal to 1, written as ∆f∆t ≥ 1. This fundamental limit applies to all waves, including particle waves in quantum mechanics. It implies that any wave phenomenon that occurs over a time interval ∆t must have a frequency spread of at least 1/∆t. The theorem also applies when considering the spread in wavenumber (∆k) and space (∆x), such that ∆k∆x ≥ 2π. In quantum mechanics, the bandwidth theorem is equivalent to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where ∆p

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    Bandwidth Theorem

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    The bandwidth theorem states that the product of the spread in frequency (∆f) and time (∆t) must be greater than or equal to 1, written as ∆f∆t ≥ 1. This fundamental limit applies to all waves, including particle waves in quantum mechanics. It implies that any wave phenomenon that occurs over a time interval ∆t must have a frequency spread of at least 1/∆t. The theorem also applies when considering the spread in wavenumber (∆k) and space (∆x), such that ∆k∆x ≥ 2π. In quantum mechanics, the bandwidth theorem is equivalent to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where ∆p

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    2K views9 pages

    Bandwidth Theorem

    Uploaded by

    Joel
    The bandwidth theorem states that the product of the spread in frequency (∆f) and time (∆t) must be greater than or equal to 1, written as ∆f∆t ≥ 1. This fundamental limit applies to all waves, including particle waves in quantum mechanics. It implies that any wave phenomenon that occurs over a time interval ∆t must have a frequency spread of at least 1/∆t. The theorem also applies when considering the spread in wavenumber (∆k) and space (∆x), such that ∆k∆x ≥ 2π. In quantum mechanics, the bandwidth theorem is equivalent to the Heisenberg uncertainty principle where ∆p

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 9
    At a glance
    Powered by AI
    The key takeaways are that the bandwidth theorem establishes a fundamental relationship between the spread of frequencies (Δf) and time duration (Δt) of any wave phenomenon. It also relates the spread in momentum (Δp) and position (Δx) as per the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics.

    The bandwidth theorem is directly related to the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics. If ΔωΔt ≥ 2π, then ΔEΔt ≥ ħ, meaning the strict conservation of energy can be violated for very short time intervals.

    Some consequences of the bandwidth theorem include finite width of spectral lines due to natural line width and other broadening effects like Doppler broadening and collision broadening. It also establishes limits that can never be violated.

    Bandwidth theorem

    t 2 [8.1]

    (Width in frequency domain)(Width in time domain) 2


    Remember : = 2f so

    ft 1 [8.2]

    These relations are properties of all waves including


    particle waves in quantum mechanics.

    Bandwidth theorem implies that any wave


    phenomenon that occurs over a time interval t has to
    have a spread of frequencies f given by:

    f = 1/t Hz

    If t is small then f will be large.

    Example:
    A clap has a much smaller time width, t, than a cough.
    Therefore a clap has a much larger frequency spread than
    a cough. The ear is very sensitive to different frequencies
    and so can easily distinguish between these two sound
    wave packets.
    Complicated amplitude distributions:
    The bandwidth theorem applies even if the frequency
    domain amplitude distribution is complicated.
    Take A() to be Gaussian as an example:

    A( ) = exp(( 0 )2 / 2 2 )

    Add together N waves with different wavelengths, but


    with Gaussian amplitude distribution
    c 10000 Speed the same for all wavelengths
    low 50 max 200

    Put in a distribution of amplitudes, make it


    Gaussianaround mean, with a width
    = 90 mean = 584.126
    2
    A( ) exp 1 .( mean )
    2
    2.

    A n

    (x , t) A n . sin kn. x n. t
    n
    ( 0 , t )

    t
    -0.1 0.1
    The 'width' of the amplitude distribution is ( i.e d).
    From the graph ,pulse width t ~ 0.07 s, thus
    . 0.07 = 6.3 i.e ~ 2

    So the bandwidth theorem works!

    Bandwidth theorem in real waves


    In real physical situations the width of the
    amplitude distribution in the frequency domain, and the
    width t of the wave packets in the time domain, may be
    very hard to define.
    In most cases these quantities will be estimated as
    being wider than they are.
    => In general one will find : t >> 2
    You will never find : t << 2
    You can not beat the bandwidth theorem: it is a
    fundamental limit (as is the 2nd law of thermodynamics)
    More bandwidth theorem
    We have seen that t ~ 2
    Can also look at spread in k values (k = 2/) k and
    the spread in space, x, of the wave packet

    kx 2

    [See tutorial question]

    To superpose waves with different amplitudes at


    different frequencies we have been using the formula:
    (x , t) A n . sin kn. x n. t
    n
    This is a simple case of the Fourier Theorem.
    The most general form is to write
    ( x, t ) = A0 + A( ) sin(kx t ) + B( ) cos(kx t )
    So the sine and cosine terms each have independent
    amplitude distributions A() and B()
    Adding the whole Fourier Series: add together a large
    number of waves with both sine and cosine terms
    c 1000 All have same speed
    N 50 low 70 max 130

    0 N
    width of amplitude distribution
    2
    A( ) .9 Fixed amplitude distributions
    B( ) .4
    Sum the N waves, each having its own amplitude
    A0 100 This will turn out to equal the MEAN
    VALUE of wavepacket (x,t)

    (x , t) A0 A n . sin kn. x n. t B n . cos kn. x n. t


    n n

    150
    Notice how hard it is
    ( 0 , t ) 100 to estimate the width of
    A0 this wavepacket in the
    50
    time domain, also note
    0 that the mean value of
    1 0 1
    t the wavepacket is given
    by the first ( constant) term in the Fourier series
    As before but with random amplitude
    distributions

    A( ) rnd( 1 ) Put in some RANDOM


    B( ) rnd( 1 ) amplitude distributions

    Frequency domain

    1
    1
    A( ) 0.5
    B( ) 0.5
    0
    40 60 80 100
    0
    40 60 80 100
    n
    n
    Time domain

    150

    ( 0 , t ) 100

    A0
    50

    0
    1 0 1
    t
    Very similar wave packet even with random input
    amplitudes: t still determined by the input or (k).
    Consequences of the Bandwidth Theorem

    Width of spectral lines


    Atoms in a gas discharge lamp emit light over a finite
    time interval : t 108s
    Thus the light emitted is not mono-chromatic since
    there has to be a spread of frequencies:

    f ~ 1/ t ~ 108 Hz

    This spread will make the spectra line have a finite


    width, called the natural line width (see Hecht section
    7.10)

    Other reasons causing line broadening


    Doppler effect: The atoms in a hot gas have a speed
    (V ms-1) given by:

    1/2 m V2 = 3/2 kT
    where k is Boltzmanns constant, T is the temperature
    in Kelvin, m is the mass of the gas molecule in kg.
    Waves emitted by atoms moving towards the observer
    are blue shifted (wavelength decrease) and waves
    emitted by atoms moving away from the observer are red
    shifted. This process often dominates over the natural
    line width.
    Collision Broadening: Collisions between atoms
    will disturb the energy levels and cut short the
    emission processes (t smaller). Hence f must be
    larger.

    y
    i

    x
    i
    Observe random phase changes as the atom collides with
    other atoms. Reduces the effective decay lifetime.

    Bandwidth Theorem in Quantum


    mechanics

    Particles exhibit wave behaviour

    Momentum p = h/ = 2h / 2 = k

    Where h is Plancks constant, = h/2

    Also energy E = hf =

    As waves these must obey the bandwidth theorem

    i.e. kx 2

    => kx h
    Using k = p, the spread in momentum

    => px h

    This is Heisenbergs uncertainty principle.

    Also t 2, hence kx h

    => Et h

    In QM this means that for very short time intervals


    then the strict conservation of energy can be violated

    E h/t

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