This is a only a summary of knowledge.
Fourier transform
There are many conventions as in where to put the normalisation factor.
- Forward Fourier transform (Fourier analysis)
- Inverse Fourier transform (Fourier synthesis)
Another common convention is to put before both integrals (balanced convention).
Properties
Linearity
Rescaling (real $\alpha$)
Shift / exponential (real $\alpha$)
Differentiation / multiplication
Duality
Complex conjugation and parity inversion
Symmetry - even & odd
FT of special functions
Top-hat function
FT is .
e.g. is a top hat of strength 1, , then .
Gaussian
FT is another Gaussian, with inversely proportional width, .
Done by completing the square of the exponent. Also need Jordan’s lemma.
Delta function
Gives a definite position, hence should give no information about the momentum - a constant. Then we have the identity
Convolution theorem & such
What is convolution
Definition
The convolution of two function and
This is a symmetric operation, i.e. .
Concept
Fix one function in space, reverse the other function in space. Then convolution is a function of the position of the reversed function, with the value of the integral of the product of the two functions.
Function / plot intuition
Copy and (continuously) pasting at with the weight .
The simplist illustration of this idea is if is a delta function, or a sum of several delta functions. This is the same as “lattice & motif” idea.
Probability
If and are two (independent) probability distribution functions, then is the PDF of .
Convolution theorem
So, it is easiest to manipulate a convolution in the frequency space, as a product.
- Deconvolution is possible as a division in the frequency space.
Correlation
The correlation of two functions is
- If two signals are in phase, the correlation is positive;
- Vice versa
- If two signals are completely unrelated (e.g. noises), then correlation is 0.
Parseval’s theorem
or more commonly, when ,
Derive from: either the Fourier transform of a correlation; or change the order of integration and use the delta function identity.
Fourier transform preserves the inner product of functions, hence it is a unitary transformation.