Submitted by Max-Phallus t3_10rza78 in askscience
I've always imagined radio signals as enormous wavelength photons, and we can generate very complicated wave forms with radio. So can we form complex wave form light? Does this happen naturally?
Follow up questions for any takers:
- Are there natural phenomenon which produce odd looking wave forms?
- Does a refraction grating separate out different wavelength photons, or act like a physical Fourier transform on complicated waveforms?
Hapankaali t1_j6yz78s wrote
Since you already know about Fourier transforms, it's easier to explain. The Fourier transform of a monochromatic (single wavelength) source is a function that is constant in time. But no realistic phenomenon in nature is infinitely-long-lived. So it's not only common for realistic wave forms to be composed of many wavelengths, it's the case for every naturally occurring source.