The Fourier transform of the sample autocorrelation function
(see (6.6)) is defined as the
sample power spectral density (PSD):
![]() |
(7.11) |
Similarly, the true power spectral density of a stationary stochastic
processes
is given by the Fourier transform of the true
autocorrelation function
, i.e.,
![]() |
(7.12) |
For real signals, the autocorrelation function is always real and even, and therefore the power spectral density is real and even for all real signals.
An area under the PSD expressed as a function of frequency
in Hz,
, comprises the contribution to the
variance of
from the frequency interval
. The total integral of the PSD then gives
the total variance:
![]() |
(7.13) |
Since the sample autocorrelation of white noise approaches an impulse,
its sample PSD approaches a constant, as can be seen in Fig.6.1.
Its true PSD is precisely constant (variance divided by
).
This means that white noise contains all frequencies in equal amounts.
Since white light is defined as light of all colors in equal amounts,
the term ``white noise'' is seen to be analogous.