Registration for 2003 is closed because the workshop has finished. If you have questions about the workshop, you can send e-mail to Professor Hamburger at Hamburge (at) ipfw.edu.

Some Applications of Fourier Analysis in Physics

Here are some brief descriptions of physics projects where both the theoretical predictions and the experimental data can be analyzed using Fourier methods.

• Force and Motion; Vibrations and Spring Systems.

  Monitoring the force exerted on a probe at the upper support we can determine the modes of vibration in coupled oscillators.

  

  A graph of experimental data and its Fourier Transform (79KB)

 

• Building vibration analysis.

  Using speakers and a simple vibration probe we can monitor and determine the modes and frequency of vibration.

  A photo (104KB) of the monitoring device

 

• Sound analysis.

  The human voice and musical instruments can be examined using Fourier transforms to determine the frequency components and their relative phases.

  

  Waveform of a Reed.

  

  Fourier Transform of above waveform

 

• Light : Double slit interference, Interferometers

  Splitting light such that the two parts travel different path lengths produces interference. The interference pattern can be considered as a Fourier transform on the incident light – dependent upon the wavelength of the light and the path difference between the two paths.

  A photo (356KB) of the laser experiment
  A graph with a curve and data points
  

 

• Light : Fourier Optics

  Lenses, when arranged appropriately, take a two-dimensional Fourier transform of an object. This process can be used for image processing and filtering. This same process can be employed to produce calculated holograms.

   

• Web site from the 2002 workshop
• Web site from the 2001 workshop.
• PHOTOS FROM THE 2002 WORKSHOP
• PHOTOS FROM THE 2001 WORKSHOP

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