Linear systems

  1. Hi all

    Would it be possible to store information in a linear system?
  2. jcsd
  3. chroot

    chroot 10,427
    Staff Emeritus
    Science Advisor
    Gold Member

    The term "linear system" usually means some kind of filter which takes an input signal and produces an output signal. Such a filter is linear if it obeys the superposition principle: two summed inputs produces an output that's equal to the two inputs passed independently through the filter, and then summed afterwards.

    In any event, a "linear system" may have some memory, usually used to add present samples of the input to past samples of the input. In this sense, you may store information in such a system, though, if you keep applying inputs, your data will eventually be lost.

    Note: since this has nothing to do with astronomy, I'm moving it to general engineering.

    - Warren

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