Q factor (quality factor) measures how "sharp" a resonance is. A high-Q system stores energy efficiently â it rings for many cycles before the energy dissipates. A low-Q system is lossy â the energy drains away quickly.
Mathematically, Q is the ratio of the resonant frequency to the bandwidth:
Q = fâ / Îf
Where fâ is the resonant frequency and Îf is the bandwidth between the -3dB points (the frequencies where the response drops to 70.7% of its peak).
Why it matters
A system with a Q of 10 rings for about 10 cycles before the energy drops significantly. A system with a Q of 1000 rings for 1000 cycles. In the context of Open Energy experiments, higher Q means more energy accumulates in the resonant system before it dissipates â which is exactly the condition the meta-pattern hypothesis predicts should produce interesting effects.
Typical values
- A basic LC circuit on a breadboard: Q of 10â50
- A well-built coil on a quality ferrite core: Q of 50â200
- A quartz crystal: Q of 10,000â100,000
- A superconducting cavity: Q of 10âš+
The experiments aim to measure and compare Q across different coil geometries and circuit configurations. Even a 2x improvement in Q from a winding geometry change is a significant result worth reporting.