Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 39 - Wave Functions and Uncertainty - Exercises and Problems - Page 1175: 21

Answer

${\bf 10^5}\;\rm oscillations $

Work Step by Step

We need to find how many oscillations are in the shortest-duration laser pulse that can travel through the fiber, and since the laser pulse is an electromagnetic wave packet, we can use the uncertainty principle for signal transmission $$ \Delta t \cdot \Delta f \approx 1 \tag 1$$ where $ \Delta t $ is the pulse duration, and $ \Delta f $ is the bandwidth. The number of oscillations in the pulse can be calculated by dividing the pulse duration by the period of one oscillation. Recalling that the frequency $ f $ of the laser pulse is given by $$ f = \frac{c}{\lambda} $$ where $f=\dfrac{1}{T}$ where $T$ is the period of one oscillation. So, $$ \dfrac{1}{T} = \frac{c}{\lambda} $$ Hence; $$T=\dfrac{\lambda}{c} \tag 2 $$ We can find the number of oscillations $N$ by dividing the pulse duration $ \Delta t $ by the period $ T $. $$ N= \frac{\Delta t}{T} $$ Plug $\Delta t$ from (1); $$ N= \dfrac{\dfrac{1}{\Delta f} }{T} $$ Plug $T$ from (2) $$ N= \dfrac{\dfrac{1}{\Delta f} }{\dfrac{\lambda}{c}} $$ $$ N= \dfrac{c }{\lambda \Delta f} $$ Plug the known; $$ N= \dfrac{(3\times 10^8)}{(1.5\times 10^{-6})(2\times 10^9)} =\color{red}{\bf 10^5}\;\rm oscillations $$
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