Some Special Fourier

Transform Pairs

24.3
Introduction

Prerequisites
Before starting this Section you should . . .

Learning Outcomes
After completing this Section you should be
able to . . .

1. Parsevals Theorem
Recall from Unit 2 on Fourier Series that for a periodic signal f
T
(t) with complex Fourier
coecients c
n
(n = 0, 1, 2, . . .) Parsevals Theorem holds:
1
T
_
+
T
2

T
2
f
2
T
(t)dt =

n=
|c
n
|
2
,
where the left hand side is the mean square value of the function (signal) over one period.
For a non-periodic real signal f(t) with Fourier Transform F() the corresponding result is
_

f
2
(t)dt =
1
2
_

|F()|
2
d.
This result is particularly signicant in lter theory. For reasons that we do not have space to
go into, the left hand side integral is often referred to as the total energy of the signal. The
integrand on the right hand side
1
2
|F()|
2
is then referred to as the energy density (because it is the frequency domain quantity that has
to be integrated to obtain the total energy).
Verify Parsevals Theorem using the one-sided exponential function
f(t) = e
t
u(t).
Firstly evaluate the integral on the left hand side.
Your solution
W e h a v e
_

f
2
( t ) d t =
_

0
e
2 t
d t =
_
e
2 t
2
_

0
=
1
2
.
Now obtain the Fourier Transform F() and evaluate the right hand side integral:
Your solution
HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
2
W e h a v e
F ( ) = F { e
t
u ( t ) } =
1
1 + i
,
s o
| F ( ) |
2
=
1
( 1 + i )
.
1
( 1 i )
=
1
1 +
2
.
T h e n
1
2
_

| F ( ) |
2
d =
1

0
| F ( ) |
2
d
=
1

0
1
1 +
2
d
=
1

_
t a n
1

0
=
1

2
=
1
2
.
S i n c e b o t h i n t e g r a l s g i v e t h e s a m e v a l u e P a r s e v a l s T h e o r e m i s v e r i e d f o r t h i s c a s e .
1. Existence of Fourier Transforms
Formally, sucient conditions for the Fourier Transform of a function f(t) to exist are
i.
_

|f(t)|
2
dt is nite
ii. f(t) has a nite number of maxima and minima in any nite interval
iii. f(t) has a nite number of discontinuities.
Like the equivalent conditions for the existence of Fourier Series these conditions are known as
Dirichlet conditions.
If the above conditions hold then f(t) has a unique Fourier Transform. However certain func-
tions, such as the unit step function, which violate one or more of the Dirichlet conditions still
have Fourier Transforms in a more generalized sense as we shall see shortly.
2. Fourier Transform and Laplace Transforms
Suppose f(t) = 0 for t < 0. Then the Fourier Transform of f(t) becomes
F{f(t)} =
_

0
f(t)e
it
dt. (6)
As you may recall from earlier units, the Laplace Transform of f(t) is
L{f(t)} =
_

0
f(t)e
st
dt. (7)
Comparison of (6) and (7) suggests that for such one-sided functions, the Fourier Transform of
f(t) can be obtained by simply replacing s by i in the Laplace Transform.
An obvious example where this can be done is the function
f(t) = e
t
u(t).
3 HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
In this case L{f(t)} =
1
+s
= F(s) and, as we have seen earlier,
F{f(t)} =
1
+ i
= F(i).
However care must be taken with such substitutions. We must be sure that the conditions for
the existence of the Fourier Transform are met.
Thus, for the unit step function,
L{u(t)} =
1
s
,
whereas, F{u(t)} =
1
i
.
(We shall see shortly that F{u(t)} does actually exist but is not equal to
1
i
.)
We should also point out that some of the properties we have discussed for Fourier Transforms
are similar to those of the Laplace Transforms e.g. the time-shift properties:
Fourier: F{f(t t
0
)} = e
it
0
F()
Laplace: L{f(t t
0
)} = e
st
0
F(s).
3. Some special Fourier Transforms pairs
As mentioned in the previous section it is possible to obtain Fourier Transforms for some impor-
tant functions that violate the Dirichlet Conditions. To discuss this situation we must introduce
the unit impulse function, also known as the Dirac delta function. We shall study this
topic in an inituitive, rather than rigorous, fashion.
Recall that a symmetrical rectangular pulse
p
a
(t) =
_
1 a < t < a
0 otherwise
has a Fourier Transform
P
a
() =
2

sin a.
If we consider a pulse whose height is
1
2a
rather than 1 (so that the pulse encloses unit area),
then we have, by the linearity property of Fourier Transforms,
F{
1
2a
p
a
(t)} =
sin a
a
.
As the value of a becomes smaller, the rectangular pulse becomes narrower and taller but still
HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
4
has unit area.
2
1
1
2
a =
1
4
a =
1
2
a = 1
1
1
2

1
4
1
2
1
4
1 t
We shall dene the unit impulse function (t) as
(t) = lim
a0
1
2a
p
a
(t)
and show it graphically as follows.
(t)
t = 0
t
Then,
F{(t)} = F
_
lim
a0
1
2a
p
a
(t)
_
= lim
a0
F
_
1
2a
p
a
(t)
_
= lim
a0
sin a
a
= 1.
Here we have assumed that interchanging the order of taking the Fourier transform with the
limit operation is valid.
Now consider a shifted unit impulse (t t
0
)
t = 0 t
(t t
0
)
t
0
5 HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
We have, by the time shift property
F{(t t
0
)} = e
it
0
(1) = e
it
0
.
These results are summarized in the following Key Point:
Key Point
The Fourier transform of a unit impulse
F{(t t
0
)} = e
it
0
.
If t
0
= 0
F{(t)} = 1.
Apply the duality property to the result
F{(t)} = 1.
(From the way we have introduced the unit impluse function it must clearly
be treated as an even function.)
Your solution
HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
6
W e h a v e
F { ( t ) } = 1 .
b y t h e d u a l i t y p r o p e r t y
F { 1 } = 2 ( ) = 2 ( ) .
W e s e e t h a t t h e s i g n a l
f ( t ) = 1 , < t <
w h i c h i s i n n i t e l y w i d e , h a s F o u r i e r t r a n s f o r m :
F ( ) = 2 ( )
w h i c h i s i n n i t e s i m a l l y n a r r o w . T h i s r e c i p r o c a l e e c t i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f F o u r i e r T r a n s f o r m s .
f ( t )
1
t
F ( )
2 ( )

T h i s r e s u l t i s i n t u i t i v e l y p l a u s i b l e s i n c e a c o n s t a n t s i g n a l w o u l d b e e x p e c t e d t o h a v e a f r e q u e n c y
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n w h i c h h a d o n l y a c o m p o n e n t a t z e r o f r e q u e n c y ( = 0 ) .
Use the result F{1} = 2() and the frequency shift property to obtain
F{e
i
0
t
}.
Your solution
7 HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
W e h a v e
F { e
i
0
t
} = F { e
i
0
t
f ( t ) }
w h e r e f ( t ) = 1 , < t < . B u t
F { f ( t ) } = 2 ( ) ,
b y t h e f r e q u e n c y s h i f t p r o p e r t y
F { e
i
0
t
} = 2 (
0
) .

2 (
0
)

0
F { e
i
0
t
}
Obtain the Fourier Transform of a pure cosine wave
f(t) = cos
0
t < t <
by writing f(t) in terms of complex exponentials and using the result of the
previous exercise.
Your solution
HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
8
W e h a v e f ( t ) = c o s
0
t =
1
2
_
e
i
0
t
+ e
i
0
t
_
s o
F { c o s
0
t } =
1
2
F { e
i
0
t
} +
1
2
F { e
i
0
t
} = (
0
) + ( +
0
)

0
F ( )

0
N o t e t h a t b e c a u s e
_

| c o s
0
t | d t d i v e r g e s o n e o f t h e D i r i c h l e t c o n d i t i o n s i s v i o l a t e d . N e v e r -
t h e l e s s , a s w e c a n s e e , v i a t h e u s e o f t h e u n i t i m p u l s e f u n c t i o n s t h e F o u r i e r T r a n s f o r m o f c o s
0
t
e x i s t s .
B y s i m i l a r r e a s o n i n g w e c a n r e a d i l y s h o w
F { s i n
0
t } =

i
(
0
)

i
( +
0
) .
N o t e t h a t t h e u s u a l r e s u l t s f o r F o u r i e r T r a n s f o r m s o f e v e n a n d o d d f u n c t i o n s s t i l l h o l d .
Fourier Transform of the Unit Step Function
We have already pointed out that although
L{u(t)} =
1
s
we cannot simply replace s by i to obtain the Fourier Transform of the unit step.
We proceed via the Fourier Transform of the signum function sgn t which is dened as
sgn t =
_
1 t > 0
1 t < 0
.
sgn(t)
1
1
t
We obtain F{sgn t} as follows.
9 HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
Consider the odd two sided exponential function f

(t) dened as
f

(t) =
_
e
t
t > 0
e
t
t < 0
,
where > 0.
t
f

(t)
1
1
By adapting slightly our earlier calculation for the even two sided exponential function we nd
F{f

(t)} =
1
( i)
+
1
( + i)
=
( + i) + ( i)

2
+
2
=
2i

2
+
2
.
The parameter controls how rapidly the exponential function varies:
t
f

(t)
1
1

1
>
2
>
3
As we let 0 the exponential function resembles more and more closely the signum function.
This suggests that
F{sgn t} = lim
0
F{f

(t)}
= lim
0
_

2i

2
+
2
_
=
2i

=
2
i
.
Write the unit step function in terms of the signum function and hence obtain
F{u(t)}.
HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs
10
First express u(t) in terms of sgn t.
Your solution
F r o m t h e g r a p h s
s g n ( t )
1
1
u ( t )
1
t
t
t h e s t e p f u n c t i o n c a n b e o b t a i n e d b y a d d i n g 1 t o t h e s i g n u m f u n c t i o n f o r a l l t a n d t h e n d i v i d i n g
t h e r e s u l t i n g f u n c t i o n b y 2 i . e .
u ( t ) =
1
2
( 1 + s g n t ) .
N o w , u s i n g t h e l i n e a r i t y p r o p e r t y o f F o u r i e r T r a n s f o r m s a n d p r e v i o u s l y o b t a i n e d F o u r i e r T r a n s -
f o r m s , n d F { u ( t ) } .
Your solution
W e h a v e , u s i n g l i n e a r i t y ,
F { u ( t ) } =
1
2
F { 1 } +
1
2
F { s g n t } =
1
2
2 ( ) +
1
2
2
i
= ( ) +
1
i
T h u s , t h e F o u r i e r T r a n s f o r m o f t h e u n i t s t e p f u n c t i o n c o n t a i n s t h e a d d i t i o n a l i m p u l s e t e r m
( ) a s w e l l a s t h e o d d t e r m
1
i
.
11 HELM (VERSION 1: March 18, 2004): Workbook Level 2
24.3: Some Special Fourier Transform Pairs