LAPLACE TRANSFORM OF THE DIRAC DELTA FUNCTION

Objectives

By the end of this handout, you must be able to:

 Sketch the unit impulse (Dirac Delta) function

 Determine the functional representation of the Dirac delta function
 Determine the Laplace transform of the Dirac delta function

Introduction

The unit impulse function, also known as the Dirac Delta function is a generalized
function used to represent (model) an extremely large force or stimuli acting on
a system for a minutely small interval of time, such as a mechanical blow, an
electrical shock or electrical short. In control systems theory, the Dirac delta (unit
impulse) function together with the step function are used as standard test inputs
to physical systems in time response analysis.

Concept of the unit impulse function

A unit impulse function is best understood using a rectangular pulse having an

area of 1. As the width of the pulse decreases, the height of the pulse must
increase to maintain the same area. As the width of the rectangular pulse
approaches zero, you will see that in order to maintain an area of 1, the pulse
must have an infinite height as shown below:

And you will see that the result is a unit impulse function (with an area of 1).

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Unit impulse (Dirac Delta) function, 𝜹𝒕

This is a function that is equal to zero when t ≠ 0 and equal to infinity when t = 0.

Graphical representation of the unit impulse function, δt

Functional representation of the unit impulse function, 𝜹𝒕

𝟎; 𝒕 ≠ 𝟎
𝜹𝒕 = { }
∞; 𝒕 = 𝟎

Laplace transform of the unit impulse function, 𝜹𝒕

Using the definition;

∞

ʆ 𝛿𝑡 = ∫ 𝑒 −𝑠𝑡 𝛿𝑡 𝑑𝑡
𝑡=0

It is difficult to determine the integral for the delta function because, it only has
an area of 1 when 𝑡 = 0. Evaluating this integral is the equivalent of evaluating
e−st at t = 0.

∴ ʆ 𝛅𝐭 = 𝐞−𝐬(𝟎) = 𝐞𝟎 = 𝟏

The shifted (delayed) unit impulse function, 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂)

This is a delta function which is equal to zero for all values of 𝑡 ≠ 𝑎 and a value of
infinity when; 𝑡 = 𝑎 (where 𝑎 ≠ 0) as shown below:

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Functional representation of 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂)

0; t ≠ a
δ(t − a) = { }
∞; t = a

Laplace transform of 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂)

∞

ʆ 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂) = ∫ 𝒆−𝒔𝒕 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂) 𝒅𝒕

𝒕=𝟎

Note that this function is zero everywhere, but has area equal to 1 where t = a.
Evaluating this integral is the equivalent of evaluating the 𝒆−𝒔𝒕 term at t = a.

∴ ʆ 𝛅(𝐭 − 𝐚) = 𝐞−𝐚𝐬

Similarly;
∞

ʆ 𝐟(𝐭) 𝛅(𝐭 − 𝐚) = ∫ 𝒆−𝒔𝒕 𝒇(𝒕) 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝒂) 𝒅𝒕 = 𝐞−𝐚𝐬 𝐟(𝐚)

𝒕=𝟎

Summary of Laplace transforms for delta functions

ʆ 𝛅𝐭 = 𝟏
ʆ 𝛅(𝐭 − 𝐚) = 𝐞−𝐚𝐬
ʆ 𝐟(𝐭) 𝛅(𝐭 − 𝐚) = 𝐞−𝐚𝐬 𝐟(𝐚)

Example 1

Determine the Laplace transforms of the following:

1. 5 δt

3
2. 6 δ(t − 3)
π
3. sin3t . δ (t − 2 )

4. 4 δt + 4δ(t − 2) − 3 cost . δ(t − π)

Solutions

1. ʆ 5δt = 5 ʆ δt = 5(1) = 5
2. ʆ 6 δ(t − 3) = 6 ʆ δ(t − 3)

From the standard transforms above; ʆ δ(t − a) = e−as ;

∴ 6 ʆ δ(t − 3) = 6e−3s

π
3. ʆ sin3t . δ (t − 2 )

From the standard transforms above;

ʆ f(t) δ(t − a) = e−as f(a)

f(t) = sin3t 𝜋
In this case; π π and 𝑎=
From which f(a) = f ( 2 ) = sin 3 (2 ) = −1 2

π
∴ ʆ sin3t . δ (t − ) = f(a)e−as
2
π
= −1e− 2 s
π
= −e− 2 s

4. ʆ {4 δt + 4δ(t − 2) − 3 cost . δ(t − π)}

Here, we take the Laplace transform of each term separately;
𝟒 ʆ𝛅𝐭 + 𝟒 ʆ𝜹(𝒕 − 𝟐) − 𝟑ʆ 𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒕. 𝜹(𝒕 − 𝝅)
Using the 3 standard transforms above, we get:
4(1) + 4(e−2s ) − 3f(a)e−as
4 + 4e−2s − 3cosπ . e−πs
4 + 4e−2s − 3(−1)e−πs
∴ 4 + 4e−2s + 3e−πs

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Since the delta function is used to represent a force, it can also appear as an
input to differential equations. Forexample, an electrical circuit may be excited
by a shock input, modelled as a delta function. Here is an example to illustrate
this.

Example 2

d2 x 3dx dx
Use Laplace transforms to solve: + + 2x = 3δ(t − 4), if at 𝑡 = 0, 𝑥 = 0, dt = −4
dt2 dt

Solution

Here, we employ the same procedure for solving differential equations using
Laplace transforms (discussed earlier on).

Step I – Take Laplace transforms on both sides of the differential equation

d2 x 𝑑𝑥
ʆ 2 + 3ʆ + 2 ʆ 𝑥 = 3 ʆδ(t − 4)
dt 𝑑𝑡

This gives: 𝑠 2 𝑥(𝑠) − 𝑠𝑥(0) − 𝑥 ′ (0) + 3[𝑠𝑥(𝑠) − 𝑥(0)] + 2𝑥(𝑠) = 3e−4s

dx
Step II – Substitute initial conditions; given that: at 𝑡 = 0, 𝑥 = 0, dt = −4

𝑠 2 𝑥(𝑠) − 𝑠(0) − (−4) + 3[𝑠𝑥(𝑠) − 0] + 2𝑥(𝑠) = 3e−4s

𝑠 2 𝑥(𝑠) + 4 + 3𝑠𝑥(𝑠) + 2𝑥(𝑠) = 3e−4s

Step III – Simplify as much as possible and get an expression for x(s)

𝑠 2 𝑥(𝑠) + 3𝑠𝑥(𝑠) + 2𝑥(𝑠) = 3e−4s − 4

(𝑠 2 + 3𝑠 + 2) 𝑥(𝑠) = 3e−4s − 4

3𝑒 −4𝑠 − 4 3𝑒 −4𝑠 − 4
𝑥(𝑠) = =
𝑠 2 + 3𝑠 + 2 (𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2)

Step IV – Determine the inverse Laplace transform of the x(s) function to get x(t).

In this case, because the numerators are different, we split them as follows:

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 3𝑒 −4𝑠 4
−
(𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2) (𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2)

1 1
3𝑒 −4𝑠 ( ) − 4( )
(𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2) (𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2)

1
Then, we can resolve into partial fractions (the process of resolving into
(𝑠+1)(𝑠+2)

partial fractions will not be shown here).

1 1 1
∴ = −
(𝑠 + 1)(𝑠 + 2) 𝑠 + 1 𝑠 + 2

1 1 1 1
𝑥(𝑠) = 3𝑒 −4𝑠 ( − ) − 4( − )
𝑠+1 𝑠+2 𝑠+1 𝑠+2

3𝑒 −4𝑠 3𝑒 −4𝑠 4 4
= − − +
𝑠+1 𝑠+2 𝑠+1 𝑠+2

Now we can take the inverse Laplace transforms on both sides;

3𝑒 −4𝑠 3𝑒 −4𝑠 4 4
𝑥(𝑡) = ʆ−1 { − − + }
𝑠+1 𝑠+2 𝑠+1 𝑠+2

For the first two terms, recall the second shift theorem;

ʆ −𝟏 𝒆−𝒂𝒔 𝒇(𝒔) = 𝒖 (𝒕 − 𝒂) 𝒇 (𝒕 − 𝒂)

1 1 1 1
∴ 𝑥(𝑡) = 3ʆ −1 (𝑒 −4𝑠 ) − 3ʆ−1 (𝑒 −4𝑠 ) − 4ʆ−1 + 4ʆ−1
𝑠+1 𝑠+2 𝑠+1 𝑠+2

𝐱(𝐭) = 𝟑𝐮(𝐭 − 𝟒)𝐞−(𝐭−𝟒) − 𝟑𝐮(𝐭 − 𝟒)𝐞−𝟐(𝐭−𝟒) − 𝟒𝐞−𝐭 + 𝟒𝐞−𝟐𝐭

Exercise

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1. Determine ʆ (4δt + 3δ(t − 1) − 5e−2t δ (t − 2))

d2 i di
2. Solve dt2 + 5 dt + 6i = 20δ(t − 4); given that: i(0) = 0 and i′ (0) = 2

Fun fact!! The impulse function is the derivative of the unit step function. Think about
why this is