Fourier Series

and
Fourier Transform

6.082 Spring 2007

Complex exponentials
Complex version of Fourier Series
Time Shifting, Magnitude, Phase
Fourier Transform
Copyright 2007 by M.H. Perrott
All rights reserved.

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 1

The Complex Exponential as a Vector

Q

Note:
e jt

sin(t)
t

cos(t)

Eulers Identity:
Consider I and Q as the real and imaginary parts
As explained later, in communication systems, I stands
for in-phase and Q for quadrature

As t increases, vector rotates counterclockwise

We consider ejwt to have positive frequency

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 2

The Concept of Negative Frequency

Q

Note:

cos(t)

t
-sin(t)

e-jt

As t increases, vector rotates clockwise

We consider e-jwt to have negative frequency

Note: A-jB is the complex conjugate of A+jB

So, e-jwt is the complex conjugate of ejwt

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 3

Add Positive and Negative Frequencies

Q

Note:

ejt
2cos(t)

e-jt

As t increases, the addition of positive and

negative frequency complex exponentials leads to a
cosine wave
Note that the resulting cosine wave is purely real and
considered to have a positive frequency

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 4

Subtract Positive and Negative Frequencies

Q

Note:
2sin(t)

-e-jt

ejt
I

As t increases, the subtraction of positive and

negative frequency complex exponentials leads to a
sine wave
Note that the resulting sine wave is purely imaginary and
considered to have a positive frequency

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 5

Fourier Series
x(t)
t
T

The Fourier Series is compactly defined using

complex exponentials

Where:
6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 6

From The Previous Lecture

x(t)
t
T

The Fourier Series can also be written in terms of

cosines and sines:

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 7

Compare Fourier Definitions

Let us assume the following:

Then:

So:
6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 8

Square Wave Example

A

x(t)
T/2
t

-A
T

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 9

Graphical View of Fourier Series

As in previous lecture, we can plot Fourier Series
coefficients
Note that we now have positive and negative values of n

Square wave example:

An

2A

Bn

2A
3
1 3 5 7 9
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1

1 3 5 7 9
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1

-2A
3
6.082 Spring 2007

-2A

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 10

Indexing in Frequency
A given Fourier coefficient,
,represents the
weight corresponding to frequency nwo
It is often convenient to index in frequency (Hz)

Af
1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T

6.082 Spring 2007

2A

2A
3
f

Bf
1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T

-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T

-2A
3
-2A

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 11

The Impact of a Time (Phase) Shift

x(t)

x(t)

T/2

t
-A

t
-A

T/4 T/4

Consider shifting a signal x(t) in time by Td

Define:
Which leads to:

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 12

Square Wave Example of Time Shift

x(t)

x(t)

T/2

t
-A

t
-A

To simplify, note that

6.082 Spring 2007

T/4 T/4

except for odd n

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 13

Graphical View of Fourier Series

x(t)

x(t)

T/2

t
-A

t
-A
T/4 T/4

Af
1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T
2A

2A
3
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T
6.082 Spring 2007

Af

2A

-7
T
-9
T

-3
T
-5
T

3
T
-1 1
T T

7
T
5
T

9
T

Bf

Bf

1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T

1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T

-2A
3
-2A

-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 14

Magnitude and Phase

We often want to ignore the issue of time (phase)
shifts when using Fourier analysis
Unfortunately, we have seen that the An and Bn
coefficients are very sensitive to time (phase) shifts

The Fourier coefficients can also be represented in

term of magnitude and phase

where:

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 15

Graphical View of Magnitude and Phase

x(t)

x(t)

T/2

t
-A

t
-A
T/4 T/4

Xf
2A
3

2A

2A

Xf
2A
3

-9 -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T T T T T T

2A
3
f

f
1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T

/2
-9 -7 -5 -3 -1
T T T T T
6.082 Spring 2007

2A

2A

2A
3
f

-9 -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T T T T T T

f
f

-/2

-9 -7 -5 -3 -1 1 3 5 7 9
T T T T T T T T T T

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 16

Does Time Shifting Impact Magnitude?

Consider a waveform x(t) along with its Fourier
Series

We showed that the impact of time (phase)

shifting x(t) on its Fourier Series is

We therefore see that time (phase) shifting does

not impact the Fourier Series magnitude

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 17

Parsevals Theorem
The squared magnitude of the Fourier Series
coefficients indicates power at corresponding
frequencies
Power is defined as:

Note:
* means
complex
conjugate
6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 18

The Fourier Transform

The Fourier Series deals with periodic signals

The Fourier Transform deals with non-periodic

signals

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 19

Fourier Transform Example

x(t)

-T

Note that x(t) is not periodic

Calculation of Fourier Transform:

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 20

Graphical View of Fourier Transform

x(t)

-T

2TA

X(j2f)

This is called
a sinc function

6.082 Spring 2007

-1
2T

1
2T

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 21

Summary
The Fourier Series can be formulated in terms of
complex exponentials
Allows convenient mathematical form
Introduces concept of positive and negative frequencies

The Fourier Series coefficients can be expressed in

terms of magnitude and phase

Magnitude is independent of time (phase) shifts of x(t)

The magnitude squared of a given Fourier Series coefficient
corresponds to the power present at the corresponding
frequency

The Fourier Transform was briefly introduced

Will be used to explain modulation and filtering in the

upcoming lectures
We will provide an intuitive comparison of Fourier Series
and Fourier Transform in a few weeks

6.082 Spring 2007

Fourier Series and Fourier Transform, Slide 22