Q factor (quality factor) measures how "sharp" a resonance is. A high-Q system stores energy efficiently — it rings for many cycles before the energy dissipates. A low-Q system is lossy — the energy drains away quickly.
Mathematically, Q is the ratio of the resonant frequency to the bandwidth:
Q = f₀ / Δf
Where f₀ is the resonant frequency and Δf 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 — 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 10–50
- A well-built coil on a quality ferrite core: Q of 50–200
- A quartz crystal: Q of 10,000–100,000
- A superconducting cavity: Q of 10⁹+
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.