# August 2014, Problem 1

Problem 1 , 2

### Solution 1

a) $E\left[Y_x\right] = \lambda_x$

Lack of proof. Should mention the property of Poisson distribution to show the equivalence. See the proof in solution 2.

b) Because the rate of absorption is proportional to the number of photons and the density of the material, so the attenuation of photons obeys the following equation

$\frac{d\lambda_x}{dx} = -\mu(x)\lambda_x$

c) Solve the differential equation in b), we have

$\lambda_x = \lambda_0e^{-\int^x_0\mu(t)dt}$

d) So the integral of the density, $\int^T_0\mu(x)dx$ can be written as $\int^T_0\mu(x)dx = -\log\left(\frac{\lambda_T}{\lambda_0}\right)$

e) $\int^T_ \mu(x)dx \simeq -\log \left( \frac{Y_T}{Y_0} \right)$

## Solution 2:

a). As we know $P\left\{Y_x=k\right\} = \frac{e^{-\lambda_x}\lambda_x^k}{k!}$ is a Potion distribution, it is known that the expectation of a Poisson RV is $\lambda_x$.

Proof:

$\begin{split} E[Y_x] &= \sum^{+ \infty}_{k > 0} k \frac{e^{-\lambda_x}\lambda_x^k}{k!}\\ &= \sum^{+ \infty}_{k = 1} \frac{e^{-\lambda_x}\lambda_x^k}{(k-1)!}\\ &= \sum^{+ \infty}_{k = 1} \frac{e^{-\lambda_x}\lambda_x^{k-1}}{(k-1)!}\lambda_x\\ &= \lambda_xe^{-\lambda_x}\sum^{+ \infty}_{k = 0} \frac{\lambda_x^k}{k!}\\ &= \lambda_xe^{-\lambda_x}e^{\lambda_x}\\ &= \lambda_x\\ \end{split}$

So $E[Y_x] = \lambda_x$

Here, it used $\sum^{+ \infty}_{k = 0} \frac{\lambda_x^k}{k!} = e^{\lambda_x}$ to derive the final conclusion.

b). Because the number of photons will decrease when increasing the depth, $d\lambda_x = -\lambda_x\mu(x)dx$

and

$\frac{d\lambda_x}{dx} = -\lambda_x\mu(x)$

c). The final differential equation in b). is an ordinary differential equation. We can get the expression as

$\lambda_x = \lambda_0e^{-\int^x_0\mu(t)dt}$

where $\lambda_0$ is the initial number of photons.

d). From part c). $\frac{\lambda_x}{\lambda_0} = e^{-\int^x_0\mu(t)dt}$, so we have

$\int^x_0\mu(t)dt = -\log\left(\frac{\lambda_T}{\lambda_0}\right)$

e). Because from a). and c)., we can get

$\int^x_0\mu(t)dt = -\log\left(\frac{Y_T}{Y_0}\right)$

This photon attenuation question is very similar to other questions: for example 2017S-ECE637-Exam1, Problem 3. Related topics are projection problems(e.g.: 2013S-ECE637-Exam1, Problem 2; 2012S-ECE637-Exam1, Problem 3) and scan problems(e.g.: 2016QE-CS5, Problem 1).

## Alumni Liaison

Abstract algebra continues the conceptual developments of linear algebra, on an even grander scale.

Dr. Paul Garrett