Definition:
From now on, the Fourier transform of a (non-periodic) function, f(x),
is defined as
F(f) = F(ω) =
^
f
≡
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x)e−iωxdx.
(3)
The inverse Fourier transform is defined as
F−1(
^
f
) = f(x) ≡
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
F(ω) eiωxdω.
(4)
Properties of Fourier transform
(1) (Linearity)
F(α f + β g) = α F(f) + β F(g)
(5)
where α and β are constants. This property comes
from the linearity of the integral operator.
(2)
F(f(n)(x)) = (iω)nF(f(x))
(6)
(Proof)
For n=1,
F(f′(x))
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f′(x) e−iωxdx
=
⎡ ⎣
f(x) e−iωx
⎤ ⎦
∞ −∞
−
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x) (−iω) e−iωxdx
=
iω
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x) e−iωxdx
=
iωF(ω),
(7)
where f(x)→ 0 as x→ ±∞ was used. This
condition is required for the existence of Fourier transforms. Use
mathematical induction for general n.
It is seen that once transformed into the frequency domain,
differentiation becomes multiplication by iω.
(Example):
u"" + u = w(x).
(8)
where w(x) is a given function defined over (−∞,∞). Fourier transforming both sides of Eq.(8)
into the frequency domain yields
(iω)4U (ω) + U(ω) = W(ω),
(9)
where U(ω) and W(ω) are the Fourier transforms of u(x)
and w(x), respectively. Equation (9) can be solved as
U(ω) =
W(ω)
1 + ω4
.
(10)
By using the inverse Fourier transform, one obtains
u(x)
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
U(ω) eiωxdω
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
W(ω)
1 + ω4
eiωxdω
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
⎛ ⎝
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
w(y) e−iy ωdy
⎞ ⎠
eix ω
1 + ω4
dω
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
⎛ ⎝
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
eiω(x − y)
1 + ω4
dω
⎞ ⎠
w(y) dy
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
G(x − y) w(y) dy,
(11)
where
G(x − y) ≡
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
eiω(x − y)
1 + ω4
dω.
(12)
The function, G(x − y), is called the Green's function and is the inverse Fourier transform of [1/(1+ω4)].
(3) (Fourier convolution)
Fourier convolution between two functions, f(x) and g(x), is defined
as
f * g ≡
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x−y) g(y) dy.
(13)
Note that
f * g = g * f.
(Proof)
f * g
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x−y) g(y) dy
=
⌠ ⌡
−∞
∞
f(z) g(x−z) (−dz)
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
g(x−y) f(y) dy
=
g * f.
(14)
where x−y ≡ z was used in Eq.(14).(Fourier convolution theorem)
F(f * g) = F(ω) G(ω).
(15)
(Proof)
f * g
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
f(x−y) g(y) dy
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
⎛ ⎝
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
F(ω) eiω(x−y)dω
⎞ ⎠
g(y) dy
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
⎛ ⎝
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
g(y) e−iωydy
⎞ ⎠
F(ω) eiωxdω
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
G(ω) F(ω) eiωxdω
=
F−1 (G(ω) F(ω)).
(16)
Convolution in the x domain is converted into ordinary
multiplication in the frequency domain. Example
u""(x) + u(x) = w(x), −∞ < x < ∞
(17)
Fourier transform the both sides yields
(iω)4U(ω) + U(ω) = W(ω),
(18)
where U(ω) and W(ω) are the Fourier transforms of u(x) and
w(x), respectively. By solving Eq.(18), one obtains
U(ω) =
1
1+ω4
W(ω).
(19)
Therefore, using the Fourier convolution theorem, u(x) can be expressed as
u(x)
=
F−1
⎛ ⎝
1
1+ω4
⎞ ⎠
* w(x)
=
G(x)* w(x)
=
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
G(x−y) w(y) dy,
(20)
where
G(x)
≡
F−1
⎛ ⎝
1
1+ω4
⎞ ⎠
=
1
2π
⌠ ⌡
∞
−∞
eiωx
1+ω4
dω
(21)
is called Green's function for Eq.(17).
Let's see if a computer can do the inverse Fourier transform:
Enter 1/(1+w^4) and w in the boxes above and press the button. Verify that you get
G(x) =
1
2
e−|x|/√2 sin
⎛ ⎝
π+2√2|x|
4
⎞ ⎠
.
(22)
Power Spectrum
We cannot draw the graph the Fourier transform of f(x), F(ω), since it is, in general, a complex function.
However, we can visualize the Fourier transform if we look at the absolute value of F(ω).
Thus, the power spectrum, P(ω), is defined as
P(ω) = F(ω)
F(ω)
= |F(ω)|2.
(23)
Note that
P(ω) = P(−ω).
(24)
An example of power spectrum is a spectrum equalizer found in DSP software
(see below).