Question

Suppose the color receptors in our retina had absorption spectra that were delta functions at the three wavelengths λR, λG, λB (instead of the actual absorption spectra S₁(λ), S₂(λ), S₃(λ). Under what conditions would two light sources C₁(λ) and C₂(λ) be perceived to be the same?

Answer 1

Two light sources would be perceived as the same if their wavelengths match the absorption spectra of our color receptors in the retina.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order for two light sources, C₁(λ) and C₂(λ), to be perceived as the same, their wavelengths (λ) must match the absorption spectra of our color receptors in the retina. Since the receptors in this scenario have absorption spectra that are delta functions at the wavelengths λR, λG, λB, the light sources would need to have the same values for λR, λG, and λB.