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wavelength Definition

wave·length (-leŋkt̸h′)

noun

  1. Physics the distance measured in the direction of a wave from any given point to the next point in the same phase, as from crest to crest
  2. Informal a way of thinking, understanding, etc.: chiefly in the phrase on the same wavelength, thinking or responding alike

wavelength Telecom Definition
The length of an electromagnetic waveform, wavelength ( ) is inversely proportional to frequency (f). As the frequency of the signal (number of cycles per second) increases, the wavelength (length of the electromagnetic waveform) of the signal decreases. In other words, the more waveforms transmitted per second, the shorter the length, or cycle, of each individual wave. Figure W-1 illustrates the relationship between frequency and wavelength -- as the frequency doubles, the wavelength halves. Figure W-1: wavelength f2 = 2 f1 Signals in electrical and radio networks are defined in terms of frequency and described in terms of cycles per second (cps) traditionally, and Hertz (Hz) in a contemporary context. Once the frequency of the electromagnetic signals exceeds the extremely high frequency (EHF) of level of 300 GHz and crosses into the infrared light (IR) range of the optical spectrum, however, Hz no longer has relevance as either a bandwidth measurement or a signal descriptor. The numbers are just too large and difficult to express. Rather, wavelength is used in the optical domain to describe the nature of the signal. By way of illustration, consider that the upper range of an analog voice channel is 4 kHz.The velocity of propagation of all electromagnetic energy in a vacuum is roughly that of the speed of light, or 300,000 kilometers per second. The velocity of electromagnetic energy through a copper wire is approximately 60
wavelength Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • nm: The diode laser operates at a wavelength of 410 nm.
  • micron: Carbon dioxide molecules absorb radiant heat at a wavelength of 15 microns.
  • radiation: By tracing how the wavelength of the radiation varies we can measure the velocity of the Hydrogen, using the Doppler shift.

Converse of object

  • absorb: Any surface that absorbs all wavelengths strongly will appear black.

Adjective modifier

  • infrared: Special modifications are required for use at infrared wavelengths.
  • near-infrared: The above image pair shows the core of NGC 1705 in both optical as well as near-infrared wavelengths taken with Hubble.
  • far-infrared: ASTRO-F will map the Universe at infrared and far-infrared wavelengths revealing the heat glow of objects hidden behind clouds of cosmic dust.
  • ultraviolet: Small quantities may also be produced by certain ultraviolet light wavelengths.
  • etheric: This way we set up a direct link to the etheric wavelengths and the rest is easy.
  • optical: However, the technology to do this at optical wavelengths is not yet available.

Modifies a noun

  • lambda: The spacing of these fringes is calculated from the wavelength lambda of the light.
  • calibration: No wavelength calibration or flux calibration have been applied.
  • &lambda: At wavelengths well away from an absorption band the optical rotation varies approximately with wavelength λ as 1 / λ 2.
  • ultraviolet: Unless it is exposed to longer wavelength ultraviolet radiation it seems to have little action.

Noun used with modifier

  • sub-millimetre: Astronomers detect light at sub-millimetre wavelengths in order to penetrate clouds of cosmic dust.
  • submillimetre: It will also be interesting to observe the HDF galaxies detected by ISO at submillimetre wavelengths, for example with SCUBA on the JCMT.
  • near-ir: At optical and near-IR wavelength the image quality distribution has a long ( non-Gaussian ) tail.
  • excitation: With the addition of the copper metal center in compound 2, the uranium emission is absent regardless of the excitation wavelength.
  • µm: This false color image was made by combining infrared camera images at 9 & 18 µm wavelength.
  • cut-off: The international reference test method defines the cut-off wavelength at which the ratio drops below 0.1 dB.