Chapter 39, Problem 40EAP

A pulse of light is created by the superposition of many waves that span the frequency range f₀ $-\frac{1}{2}\Delta f\le f\le f_0\text{}+\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\text{}\frac{1}{2}\Delta f,$ where f₀= c/ $\lambda$ is called the center frequency of the pulse. Laser technology can generate a pulse of light that has a wavelength of 600 nm and lasts a mere 6.0 fs (1fs = 1 femtosecond = 10-15 s).

a. What is the center frequency of this pulse of light?

b. How many cycles, or oscillations, of the light wave are completed during the 6.0 fs pulse?

c. What range of frequencies must be superimposed to create this pulse?

d. What is the spatial length of the laser pulse as it travels through space?

e. Draw a snapshot graph of this wave packet.