[Spring 2014] [FOURIER TRANSFORM] Signals and Systems

LAB # 11

Fourier Transform

Lab Instructor: Khuram Naveed

1 | Khuram Naveed
[Spring 2014] [FOURIER TRANSFORM] Signals and Systems

Lab 11-Fourier Transform

In previous lab, it was discussed how a periodic signal is defined for   t   or a signal defined
in a closed interval a  t  b can be expanded in Fourier series, i.e., how it can be expressed as a
linear combination of infinite sinusoidal signals. The Fourier series expansion reveals the
frequency content of the signals. In this lab, the generalized concept that expresses in frequency
domain (almost), any signal defined in the time   t   . The Fourier transform is the way to
express in re frequency domain a signal that is given in time domain. In this lab, the Fourier
transform of continuous-time signals, which is known as continuous-time Fourier transform
(CTFT) is discussed. By applying, Fourier transform to a continuous time signal x(t ) , we obtain a
representation of the signal at the cyclic frequency domain  or equivalently at the frequency
domain, f .

11.1 Continuous-Time Fourier Transform:

As previously stated, the Fourier transform expresses a signal (or function) x(t ) in the (cyclic)
frequency domain; that is, the signal is described by the function X () . The Fourier transform is
denoted by the symbol F{.} ; that is, one can write (11.1) as

X ()  F{x(t )}

In other words, the Fourier transform of a signal x(t ) is a signal X () . An alternative way of
writing 11.1 is (11.2)

x(t ) 
F
 X ()

The mathematical expression of Fourier transform is (11.3)



 x(t )e
 jt
X ()  F{x(t )}  dt


From 11.3 it is clear that X () is a complex function of  . In case the Fourier transform of x(t ) has
to be expressed in the frequency domain f , then substituting  by 2 f in 11.3, yields 11.4 given
as


 x(t )e
 j 2 t
X ( f )  F{x(t )}  dt


In order to return from the frequency domain back to the time domain the inverse Fourier
transform is implemented. The inverse Fourier transform is denoted by the symbol F 1{} ; that is,
one can write (11.5) as
x(t )  F 1{ X ()}
or alternatively (11.6) as

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[Spring 2014] [FOURIER TRANSFORM] Signals and Systems

1
X () 
F
x(t )

The mathematical expression of inverse Fourier transform is (11.7)


1
x(t )  F 1{ X ()}   X ()e
jt
d
2 

Using f instead of  , equation 11.7 becomes 11.8, given as

 X ( f )e
j 2 ft
x(t )  F 1{ X ( f )}  df


The cyclic frequency  is measured in rad/s, while the frequency f is measured in Hertz. The
Fourier transform of a signal is called (frequency) spectrum.

11.2 The Commands fourier and ifourier:

The integration of integrals given in 11.3, 11.4 , 11.7 and 11.8 is not always a trivial matter.
However, in MATLAB there is possibility to compute directly the Fourier transform X () of a
signal x(t ) by using the command fourier. Correspondingly, the inverse Fourier transform is
computed by using the command ifourier. Before executing these two commands, time t and
frequency  must be declared as symbolic variables. Recall that symbolic variables are defined
using the command syms.

Example:
Compute the Fourier transform of the function x(t )  e  t
2

Commands Results Comments

syms t w ans=pi^(1/2)*exp(- The Fourier transform of
x=exp(-t^2); 1/4*w^2) 
 2 4 
fourier(x) x(t ) is X ()   e .
int(x*exp(-j*w*t),t,-inf,inf) ans= exp(- The result is verified
1/4*w^2)*pi^(1/2) according to 11.3.

Example:
Compute the inverse Fourier transform of the function X ()  1 (1  j)

Commands Results Comments

X=1/(1+j*w); ans=exp(-x)*heaviside(x) The inverse Fourier transform
Ifourier(X) of the function is expressed
with x as the independent
variable. The result is e  xu ( x) .
However, it is more appropriate to use t as independent variable . This is accomplished by using
the syntax ifourier(X,t)

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[Spring 2014] [FOURIER TRANSFORM] Signals and Systems

Commands Results Comments

X=1/(1+j*w); ans=exp(-t)*heaviside(t) The inverse Fourier transform
Ifourier(X,t) of the function is expressed
with t as the independent
variable. The result is e  t u (t ) .

The command fourier should be executed as fourier(x,w). Using this syntax is optimal
since it allows the computation of constant functions.

Commands Results Comments

x=1; ?? Function ‘fourier ’ is not defined for The simple syntax is not
fourier(x) values of class ‘double’ appropriate for computing the
Fourier transform of constant
functions.
fourier(x,w) ans=2*pi*dirac(w) Using complex syntax allows
us to compute the Fourier
transform (if it exits) of any
function.
syms s ans=2*pi*dirac(s) Changing the variable in which
fourier(x,s) the result is given.
syms n ans=exp(-n)*heaviside(n) A variable change is also
X=1/(1+j*w); possible at ifourier
ifourier(X,n)
command.

11.3 Fourier Transform Pairs:

In this section, the most common Fourier transform pairs are presented. The computation of the
Fourier and inverse Fourier transform requires the computation of integrals given in 11.4 and 11.7,
and sometimes can be quite hard. This is the reason that already computed Fourier transform
pairs are used to compute the Fourier and inverse Fourier transform of a function. Thus, the
computational procedure is to express a complicated function of interest in terms of functions
with known Fourier (or universe Fourier) transform and then based on properties of Fourier
transform to compute the Fourier or inverse Fourier transform of complicated function. In the
following table, the most common pairs are given. The illustrated Fourier transform pairs are
confirmed by using the commands fourier and ifourier.

Time Frequency Domain Commands Results

Domain
x(t ) X () syms t w w0 t0

 (t ) 1 x=dirac(t); ans=1
fourier(x,w)
1 2 (t ) fourier(1,w) ans=2*pi*dirac(w)

u (t ) (1 j)   (t ) X=1/(j*w)+pi*dirac(w);
ifourier(X,t)
ans=heaviside(t)

 (t  t0 ) e  jt0 X=dirac(t-t0);
fourier(x,w)
ans=exp(-i*t0*w)

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[Spring 2014] [FOURIER TRANSFORM] Signals and Systems

e  j 0 t 2 (  0 ) X=2*pi*dirac(w-wo); ans=exp(i*t0*w)

ifourier(X,t)
cos(0t )  (  0 )   (  0 ) X=pi*dirac(w-w0)+dirac(w+w0); ans=cos(w0*t)
ifourier(X,t)
sin(0t )   j   (    0 )    j   (   0 ) X=(pi/j)*dirac(w-w0)-dirac(w+w0); ans=sin(w0*t)
x=ifourier(X,t)
e  at u (t ) 1 ( j   a) a=8;
x=exp(-a*t)*heaviside(t);
X=1/(8+i*w)

(a)  0 X=fourier(x,w)
x=(t)*exp(-a*t)*heaviside(t); ans=1/(8+i*w)^2
te at u (t ) 1 ( j  a ) 2 fourier(x,w)
(a)  0
n=4; ans=1/6*t^3*exp(-
(t n 1 (n  1)!)e at u (t ) 1 ( j  a) 2 X=1/(j*w+a)^n; 8*t)*heaviside(t)
(a)  0 Ifourier(X,t)

Tasks
Task 01: Plot the Fourier transform of signal x(t )  cos(t ) .

Task 02: Plot the Fourier transform of signal x(t )  sin( t ) / ( t ) .

Task 03: Plot the inverse Fourier transform of signal X ()  sin  /  .

Task 04: Suppose that a signal x(t ) is given by x(t )  te 3t . Compute the Fourier transform X () of
the signal x(t ) and plot for 20    20 rad/s.

a. The magnitude of X ()

b. The angle of X ()
c. The real part of X ()
d. The imaginary part of X ()

5 | Khuram Naveed