$

'

Continuous Fourier transforms of Periodic

Functions
Fourier transform of ejn0 t Using the frequency shifting
property of the Fourier transform

ejn0 t

= 1.ejn0 t

F(ejn0 t ) = F(1) shif ted by 0

= 2( n0 )
Fourier transform of cos 0 t
&

'
cos 0 t =
F(ej0 t ) =
=
F(cos 0 t) =

ej0 t + ej0 t
2
F(1) shif ted by 0
2( 0 )
( 0 ) + ( + 0 )

Fourier transform of a periodic function f (t)

The periodic function is not absolutely summable.
The Fourier transform can be represented by a Fourier
series.
The Fourier transform of the Fourier series representation of
the periodic function (period T ) can be computed
&

'
f (t) =

Fn e

n=

F(f (t)) = F(
=

jn0 t

2
, 0 =
T

Fn ejn0 t )

n=

Fn F(ejn0 t )

i=

= 2

Fn ( n0 )

n=

Note: The Fourier transform is made up of components at

discrete frequencies.
Fourier transform of a periodic function
P
f (t) = n= (t nT ) (a periodic train of impulses)

&

'
f (t) =

Fn e

n=

1
Fn =
T
F(f (t)) =
=

jn0 t

2
, 0 =
T

X
1
F(
ejn0 t )
T n=

Fn F(ejn0 t )

i=

=
=

1 X
( n0 )
2
T n=

( n0 )

n=

Note: A periodic train of impulses results in a Fourier

&

'

transform which is also a periodic train of impulses (see Figure

1) .
(tnT)

f(t)

( n 0 )

F( )

Figure 1: The periodic pulse train and its Fourier transform

&