Flicker noises in astronomy and elsewhere.
Abstract
Timescale variation from astronomical sources has long been referred to as a 'signal'. In other words, the variation exhibits some form of regularity. In this paper, it is maintained that the stochastic property of timescale variation is also common to a wide variety of physical phenomena. Hence, integration and Fourier transformation of noise functions, say, random white noise, can impart to the noise a semblance of regularity, turning the noise into a 'signal'. Attention is given to flicker noise (or low-frequency noises in general), and their appearance in largely non-astronomical physical phenomena. Electrical and seismic noise are presented as examples. Integrated and plotted onto a log scale, random noise shows a remarkable fit with the power law. Finally, the generation of flicker noise is dealt with mathematically by superimposition and causal filtering.
- Publication:
-
Comments on Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978ComAp...7..103P
- Keywords:
-
- Flicker;
- Noise Spectra;
- Power Spectra;
- Radio Astronomy;
- Very Low Frequencies;
- Fourier Transformation;
- Radio Sources (Astronomy);
- Random Noise;
- Random Walk;
- Signal Analysis;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- White Noise;
- Astronomy;
- Theoretical Astrophysics;
- Gravitational Instability;
- Neutrino Astronomy;
- Infrared Astronomy;
- X-Ray Astronomy;
- Gamma-Ray Astronomy;
- Element Abundances;
- Elements:Origin