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Photonics Dictionary

half bandwidth

The term half bandwidth (HBW) generally refers to the width of a spectral band or frequency range at half of its maximum amplitude. It is commonly used in the context of signal processing, optics, and communication systems. The concept is also related to the full width at half maximum (FWHM), which is a measure of the width of a distribution at half of its maximum value.

In optics and spectroscopy, the half bandwidth often refers to the range of frequencies or wavelengths over which a signal or spectrum is significant, and it is often associated with the width of certain spectral lines or filters.

In signal processing, particularly in the context of filters or modulators, the half bandwidth represents the frequency range over which the output signal has half of the power or amplitude of its maximum value.

Mathematically, the half bandwidth is often determined by measuring the width of the signal or spectrum at the points where its amplitude is reduced to half of the maximum value.

For example, if you have a frequency response curve, the half bandwidth would be the frequency range between the points where the amplitude drops to half of the maximum.

In summary, the half bandwidth is a measure of the width of a frequency range or spectral band at half of its maximum amplitude or power. Its calculation is context-dependent, based on the specific application or field in which it is used.
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