Convert wavelength in nanometres [nm] to nanohertz [nHz] Online | Free frequency-wavelength Converter

Measuring Light and Electromagnetic Waves

A nanometre (nm) is a unit of length equal to one billionth of a metre (1 nm = 10⁻⁹ m) and is commonly used to express wavelengths of light and other electromagnetic waves. In this context, nanometres provide a convenient scale for describing phenomena that occur at the atomic and molecular level. Visible light, for example, spans wavelengths from about 380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red). Ultraviolet (UV) light has shorter wavelengths, typically between 10 nm and 400 nm, while infrared (IR) light has longer wavelengths, from about 750 nm to 1,000,000 nm.

Wavelengths in nanometres are critical in fields like optics, photonics, spectroscopy, and nanotechnology. They determine the energy and color of light, how it interacts with matter, and how it can be manipulated in devices like lasers, fiber optics, and solar cells. Shorter wavelengths (in the UV or X-ray range) carry more energy and are used in applications such as medical imaging and semiconductor fabrication. Understanding and working with wavelengths in nanometres allows scientists and engineers to explore and control the behavior of light at extremely small scales—down to the size of atoms and molecules.

The Realm of Extremely Slow Oscillations

The nanohertz (nHz) is a unit of frequency equal to 10⁻⁹ hertz, meaning one cycle occurs every 1 billion seconds—about 31.7 years. This incredibly low frequency is important in fields like astrophysics, cosmology, and geophysics, where slow periodic phenomena unfold over decades to centuries.

Nanohertz frequencies are often associated with gravitational waves produced by supermassive black hole binaries orbiting each other over many years. These ultra-low-frequency waves have immense wavelengths, spanning light-years across space. Pulsar timing arrays, which monitor the precise arrival times of pulsar signals, are used to detect such nanohertz gravitational waves, offering insights into galaxy evolution and cosmic structure.

On Earth, nanohertz frequencies can describe long-term oscillations in the geomagnetic field or climate cycles. Studying these slow frequencies helps scientists understand gradual changes in planetary environments and the universe.

Although nanohertz waves are far below everyday human perception and technological applications, they are critical for unraveling the universe's slowest dynamics. Using nanohertz as a unit helps researchers quantify and analyze these grand-scale processes, linking time scales from decades to cosmic evolution.