spectrum

(noun)

A condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism.

Related Terms

  • photon

Examples of spectrum in the following topics:

  • Visible Light

    • Visible light, as called the visible spectrum, is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to (can be detected by) the human eye.
    • Note that each color can come in many shades, since the spectrum is continuous.
    • The electromagnetic spectrum, showing the major categories of electromagnetic waves.
    • Microwaves encompass the high frequency portion of the radio section of the EM spectrum.
    • A small part of the electromagnetic spectrum that includes its visible components.
  • Dispersion of the Visible Spectrum

    • Dispersion is the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths; this phenomenon can be observed in prisms and rainbows.
    • Within the electromagnetic spectrum, there is only a portion that is visible to the human eye.
    • Dispersion is the spreading of white light into its full spectrum of wavelengths.
  • Photon Energies of the EM Spectrum

    • The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.
    • The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the range of all possible frequencies of electromagnetic radiation .
    • This was the first indication of the existence of the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
    • The last portion of the electromagnetic spectrum was filled in with the discovery of gamma rays.
    • Also, radiation from various parts of the spectrum has many other uses in communications and manufacturing.
  • Power-Law Distribution of Particle Energies

    • Even before calculating the form of $F(\omega/\omega_c)$, we can determine some interesting properties of the radiation spectrum.
    • Let's use formula (19) to calculate the total spectrum from these particles,
    • This power-law spectrum is valid essentially between $\omega_c(\gamma_1)$ and $\omega_c(\gamma_2)$.
    • To understand the spectrum for frequencies outside this range and other details as well we must calculate the function $F(x)$.
  • Hydrogen Spectra

    • The observed hydrogen-spectrum wavelengths can be calculated using the following formula: $\frac{1}{\lambda} = R(\frac{1}{n_f ^2} - \frac{1}{n_i ^2})$.
    • Maxwell and others had realized that there must be a connection between the spectrum of an atom and its structure, something like the resonant frequencies of musical instruments.
    • As you might expect, the simplest atom—hydrogen, with its single electron—has a relatively simple spectrum.
    • The hydrogen spectrum had been observed in the infrared (IR), visible, and ultraviolet (UV), and several series of spectral lines had been observed .
    • The observed hydrogen-spectrum wavelengths can be calculated using the following formula:
  • Problems

    • Calculate the photon spectrum for a power-law distribution of electron energies as in $\S~$6.2.2 including the normalization and polarization.
    • Complete synchrotron spectrum for an age greater than the maximum cooling time (fast cooling).
  • Infrared Waves

    • The infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum covers the range from roughly 300 GHz (1 mm) to 400 THz (750 nm).
    • This range is sometimes called the fingerprint region, since the mid-infrared absorption spectrum of a compound is very specific for that compound.
    • The electromagnetic spectrum, showing the major categories of electromagnetic waves.
    • Microwaves encompass the high frequency portion of the radio section of the EM spectrum.
    • Distinguish three ranges of the infrared portion of the spectrum, and describe processes of absorption and emission of infrared light by molecules
  • X-Rays

    • This is called hardening the beam since it shifts the center of the spectrum towards higher energy (or harder) X-rays.
    • X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths shorter than those of visible light.
    • Different applications use different parts of the X-ray spectrum.
    • The electromagnetic spectrum, showing the major categories of electromagnetic waves.
    • Microwaves encompass the high frequency portion of the radio section of the EM spectrum.
  • X-Rays

    • This process produces an emission spectrum of x-rays at a few discrete frequencies, sometimes referred to as the spectral lines.
    • These x-rays have a continuous spectrum.
    • X-rays are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, with wavelengths shorter than those of visible light.
    • Different applications use different parts of the X-ray spectrum.
  • A Complete Synchrotron Spectrum

    • The complete spectrum from synchrotron radiation must account for the evolution of the electron energies, absorption, the minimum electron energy and the age of the source.
    • First, $\S~$6.2.2 calculates the shape of the photon spectrum for a given power-law distribution of electron energies.
    • We can combine the various results from this section to derive a schematic of the emission spectrum from a synchrotron cooling population of electrons with constant particle injection.
    • Figs. 6.4 and 6.5 depict the spectrum for slow and fast cooling.
    • Complete synchrotron spectrum for an age greater than the maximum cooling time (fast cooling).
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