- This topic has 8 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 3 months ago by
Ashu verma.
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August 1, 2015 at 12:05 am #22979
alistuParticipantHi all,
How can we convert wavelength (in meters) to frequency (in Hertz)? There is a relation which goes:
frequency=speed of light/wavelength
But it doesn’t yield sensible results. For example, in UDWDM where the spacing between channels is 0.4nm if we use the above relation, the result will be something around 75 THz! This way it certainly cannot be called “Ultra-Dense” after all.
Thank you all in advance.
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August 3, 2015 at 5:13 am #23018
Alessandro Festa
ParticipantHi Alitsu, the formula f=c/lambda must be used to convert wavelength to frequency, NOT a wavelength spacing to a frequency spacing. In this second case you would need to use derivative to have the relation.
To make it simple: f=c/lambda=299792458/lambda (in vacuum), so for example 1550nm-> 193.4145 THz and 1550.4->193.3646 Thz, the spacing is 0.05THz=50GHz.To directly convert Df (delta frequency) into Dwl (delta wavelength) you need to use the following: Df = c * Dwl / wl^2, so for example if Dwl=0.4nm and wl=1550nm, you find Df=50Ghz.
I hope I was clear in my explanation, if not just ask!
Alessandro
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August 3, 2015 at 5:53 am #23019alistuParticipant
Hi Alessandro, Thank you very much for your lucid and clear explanation. I had made an obvious mistake. So when for example WDM spacing is discussed, there should always be a mention of the center (or starting) frequency. Nevertheless, I have noticed that the equivalent frequency range is not important in many cases. Thanks again.
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August 4, 2015 at 9:28 am #23107
Ashu vermaParticipantThank you Alessandro for explanation.I wasnt aware of this(Df = c * Dwl / wl^2)formula to calculate the spacings.Really appericiate
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August 3, 2015 at 6:14 am #23020Participant
You are very welcome alitsu! The spacing always depends on center frequency as you mention…if spacing is fixed in frequency, it can change in wavelength due to their relation…for example 100GHz spacing at 1310nm is very different than 100GHz spacing at 1550nm.
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August 3, 2015 at 10:15 pm #23033alistuParticipant
Yes, and as I said it seems that, maybe due to some characteristics of the optical fiber and some other components in the system which are all expressed in wavelength (and not frequency), most of the researchers tend to use wavelength when they talk about fiber optic systems, instead of frequency.
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August 4, 2015 at 3:27 am #23068Participant
Hi Alitsu, I don’t know why wavelength is used instead of frequency usually…maybe calculations are easier with wavelength, or there are also hystorical reasons. For example cm-1 is used widely in spectroscopy, and I have always found that measurement unit very confusing!
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August 4, 2015 at 4:36 am #23071alistuParticipant
You’re right about the calculations being easier with wavelength instead of frequency and so on. I read somewhere that there are two variables in a wave equeation as we all know: time and space. And wavelength in the unit of meters has the same unit as distance, and this makes the math much simpler in many cases. Thanks for pointing that out.
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August 4, 2015 at 5:26 am #23077Participant
You are welcome Alitsu, it is my pleasure to discuss this items with you!
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