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Neper

From Quire, the open reference·Logarithmic unit for ratios of measurements of physical field and power quantities·2 min read
John Napier after whom the unit is named
John Napier after whom the unit is named Image: source and license

The neper (symbol: Np) is a logarithmic unit for ratios of measurements of physical field and power quantities, such as gain and loss of electronic signals. The unit's name derives from the name of John Napier, the inventor of logarithms. As is the case for the decibel and bel, the neper is a unit defined in the international standard ISO 80000. It is not part of the International System of Units (SI).[1]

Definition#edit

Like the decibel, the neper is a unit in a logarithmic scale. While the bel uses the decadic (base-10) logarithm to compute ratios, the neper uses the natural logarithm, based on Euler's number (e ≈ 2.71828). The level of a ratio of two signal amplitudes or root-power quantities, with the unit neper, is given by[2]

{\displaystyle L=\ln {\frac {x_{1{x_{2\mathrm {~Np} ,}

where {\displaystyle x_{1 and {\displaystyle x_{2 are the signal amplitudes, and ln is the natural logarithm. The level of a ratio of two power quantities, with the unit neper, is given by[2]

{\displaystyle L={\frac {1}{2\ln {\frac {p_{1{p_{2\mathrm {~Np} ,}

where {\displaystyle p_{1 and {\displaystyle p_{2 are the signal powers.

In the International System of Quantities, the neper is defined as 1 Np = 1.[3]

Units#edit

The neper is defined in terms of ratios of field quantities—also called root-power quantities—(for example, voltage or current amplitudes in electrical circuits, or pressure in acoustics), whereas the decibel was originally defined in terms of power ratios. A power ratio 10 log r dB is equivalent to a field-quantity ratio 20 log r dB, since power in a linear system is proportional to the square (Joule's laws) of the amplitude. Hence the decibel and the neper have a fixed ratio to each other:[4]

{\displaystyle 1\ {\text{Np=20\log _{10}e\ {\text{dB\approx {\text{8.685889638 dB

and

{\displaystyle 1\ \mathrm {dB} ={\frac {1}{20\ln(10)\ \mathrm {Np} \approx {\text{0.115129255 Np.}

The (voltage) level ratio is

{\displaystyle {\begin{aligned}L&=10\log _{10}{\frac {x_{1}^{2{x_{2}^{2&{\text{dB\\&=10\log _{10}{\left({\frac {x_{1{x_{2\right)}^{2}&{\text{d

Like the decibel, the neper is a dimensionless unit. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recognizes both units. Only the neper is coherent with the SI.[5]

Applications#edit

The neper is a natural linear unit of relative difference, meaning in nepers (logarithmic units) relative differences add rather than multiply. This property is shared with logarithmic units in other bases, such as the bel.

The derived units decineper (1 dNp = 0.1 neper) and centineper (1 cNp = 0.01 neper) are also used.[6] The centineper for root-power quantities corresponds to a log point or log percentage, see Relative change and difference § Logarithmic scale.[7]

See also#edit

References#edit

  1. ^ "SI-Brochure-9". BIPM (4.01 ed.). June 2026. pp. 140–141. doi:10.59161/AUEZ1291. Retrieved 2026-06-08.
  2. ^ a b Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology – Part 3: Logarithmic and related quantities, and their units (International standard). International Electrotechnical Commission. 2002-07-19. IEC 60027-3:2002.
  3. ^ Thor, A J (1994-01-01). "New International Standards for Quantities and Units". Metrologia. 30 (5): 517–522. doi:10.1088/0026-1394/30/5/010. ISSN 0026-1394.
  4. ^ Ainslie, Michael A.; Halvorsen, Michele B.; Robinson, Stephen P. (January 2022) [2021-11-09]. "A terminology standard for underwater acoustics and the benefits of international standardization". IEEE Journal of Oceanic Engineering. 47 (1). IEEE: 179-200 [Appendix B Decibel: Past, Present, and Future – Section D]. Bibcode:2022IJOE...47..179A. doi:10.1109/JOE.2021.3085947. eISSN 1558-1691. ISSN 0364-9059. S2CID 243948953. [1] (22 pages)
  5. ^ ISO 80000-3:2007 §0.5
  6. ^ Glossary of Telecommunication Terms. General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service. 1980. p. 73.
  7. ^ Karjus, Andres; Blythe, Richard A.; Kirby, Simon; Smith, Kenny (10 February 2020). "Quantifying the dynamics of topical fluctuations in language". Language Dynamics and Change. 10 (1): 86–125. arXiv:1806.00699. doi:10.1163/22105832-01001200. S2CID 46928080.

Works#edit

Mirifici logarithmorum canonis constructio, 1825
Mirifici logarithmorum canonis constructio, 1825 Image: source and license

Further reading#edit

  • Tuffentsammer, Karl (1956). "Das Dezilog, eine Brücke zwischen Logarithmen, Dezibel, Neper und Normzahlen" [The decilog, a bridge between logarithms, decibel, neper and preferred numbers]. VDI-Zeitschrift (in German). 98: 267–274.
  • Paulin, Eugen (2007-09-01). Logarithmen, Normzahlen, Dezibel, Neper, Phon - natürlich verwandt! [Logarithms, preferred numbers, decibel, neper, phon - naturally related!] (PDF) (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-12-18. Retrieved 2016-12-18.
Categories Units of level

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