Magnitude ↔ Flux Ratio

Inspectable records

Ledger state

The current ledger marks this instrument verified clean within the source-bound verification corpus.

Area

Earth & Space

Tranche

tranche-2

Evidence ID

t2-005

Ledger rows

2

• duplicate: also verified in calibration-1 (double-verified, consistent) — counts once

Review findings

The forward formula is standard and correct under the stated assumptions. The blank honest_label should be replaced with a clear label such as: 'Magnitude difference from positive, same-band flux ratio; inverse available. Fluxes must use compatible units.' The exact output mode and inverse formula must be specified before release.

Formula and scope findings

• The stated formula is correct for the magnitude difference: m1−m2 = −2.5·log10(F1/F2).
• The claimed reverse calculation is not explicitly specified; it must use F1/F2 = 10^(-(m1−m2)/2.5) = 10^(-0.4·(m1−m2)).
• The spec does not define how the interface selects whether the output is magnitude difference or flux ratio, creating an output-mode ambiguity.

Unit assumptions

• F1 and F2 must be positive, finite fluxes measured in the same units and the same photometric bandpass; their ratio is dimensionless.
• Magnitudes are dimensionless apparent magnitudes using the conventional astronomical sign convention.
• Flux values in different units must be converted before forming the ratio; compatible units cancel only after conversion.

Boundary hardening

BREAK_CLAIMED · SELF_FLAGGED

A zero flux denominator produces an undefined flux ratio and non-finite logarithm; without explicit positive-flux validation, the instrument can emit an invalid result. The specification also has a sign/order convention hazard that can silently produce the reciprocal ratio.

Errata and corrections

No applied erratum is attached to this unique-name record.

Inspectable example

4 review vectors are recorded. One source-bound sample is shown below.

{
  "inputs": {
    "mode": "flux_to_magnitude_difference",
    "F1": 10,
    "F2": 25,
    "flux_unit": "Jy"
  },
  "expected_outputs": {
    "magnitude_difference_m1_minus_m2": 0.9948500218
  },
  "working": "F1/F2 = 10/25 = 0.4. log10(0.4) = -0.3979400087. m1−m2 = -2.5 × (-0.3979400087) = 0.9948500218."
}

Related workflows

Sources and evidence

These pointers bind the page to evidence. They do not grant authority or collapse verification into deployment.

• VERIFIED_LEDGER.json · VERIFIED_CLEAN
• evidence-tranche2/tranche2-results.json
• BOUNDARY_HAZARD_CATALOG.json