History of Noise Research

Abstract

This chapter explains the history of noise research. It deals with the early developments in the theory of Brownian motion and in noise theory, culminating in the Ornstein approach. It also deals with the Fourier method, and provides the history of the various methods for evaluating noise spectra and distribution functions. Further, this chapter also provides the history of the theories of most important noise sources in amplifiers and detectors. It discusses Einstein's fundamental work and deals with the Langevin method of solving noise problems, and with the solution given by Omstein. Next, it deals with Einstein's theories of temperature fluctuations and of fluctuations in radiation fields. Furthermore, shot noise in temperature limited thermionic diodes is discussed. Finally, Campbell's fundamental theorem is discussed. The Fourier method of dealing with fluctuation phenomena is also discussed.