Module D: Fourier Transform of Continuous-Time Signals

We will now consider continuous-time signals that are not necessarily peri-
odic.
We start with a motivating example.
Consider an aperiodic signal x(t) that has finite duration, i.e., x(t) = 0 for
|t| > S and x(t) = 1 for |t|  S.
Clearly, x(t) is not a periodic signal.

We construct a periodic signal x̃(t) with period T :

P1
It is easy to see that x̃(t) := k= 1 x(t + kT ).

1
 Fourier Transform: Motivation

P1
Since x̃(t) = k= 1 x(t+kT ) is periodic, we may express x̃(t) using Fourier
Series:
1
X 2⇡
x̃(t) = ak ejk T t ,
k= 1
Z T Z S
1 2
j 2⇡ 1 j 2⇡
where ak = x̃(t)e T kt dt = e T kt dt
T T
2
T S

sin( 2⇡kS
T ) 2 sin(!0 Sk)
= = ,
⇡k T !0 k
2S 2⇡
a0 = , !0 = .
T T

T T
Note that over the interval [ 2 , 2 ], x̃(t) coincides with x(t). Therefore,
Z T Z 1
1 2
j 2⇡ 1 j 2⇡
ak = x̃(t)e T kt dt = x(t)e T kt dt.
T T
2
T 1

2
 Fourier Transform

What happens whern T increases?

sin( 2⇡kS
T ) 2 sin(!S)
ak = =
⇡k T !

3
 Fourier Transform

Define
Z 1
j!t
X(j!) = x(t)e dt,
1

then
Z T
1 2
j 2⇡
ak = x̃(t)e T kt dt
T T
Z 12
1 jk!0 t
= x(t)e dt
T 1
X(jk!0 ) 2⇡
= , !0 = .
T T
Substituting this in the synthesis equation, we get
1 1
1 X jk!0 t !0 X
x̃(t) = X(jk!0 )e = X(jk!0 )ejk!0 t
T 2⇡
k= 1 k= 1

4
 Fourier Transform

When the period T ! 1 (!0 ! 0), the periodic signal x̃(t) approaches x(t).
That is,

1 Z
1 X jk!0 t
1
1
x(t) = lim X(jk!0 )e !0 = X(j!)ej!t d!.
!0 !0 2⇡ 1 2⇡
k= 1

Hence, this is called the Synthesis Equation because we are gathering the Fourier
domain information to reconstruct the time signal.

The Analysis Equation, because we are analyzing the time signal in the Fourier
domain, is given by
Z 1
X(j!) = x(t)e j!t dt.
1

5
 Fourier Transform of an Aperiodic CT Signal

The Fourier Transform X(j!) is given by the

Analysis Equation:
Z 1
j!t
X(j!) = x(t)e dt.
1

and the inverse Fourier Transform is given by the

Synthesis Equation:
Z 1
1
x(t) = X(j!)ej!t d!.
2⇡ 1

X(j!) is called the spectrum of the signal and it represents the contribution of
frequency ! to the signal x(t).

6
 Example 1

at
Consider the signal x(t) = e u(t), for a > 0. Find its Fourier transform.

Z 1
j!t
X(j!) = x(t)e dt
1
Z 1
at j!t
= e u(t)e dt
1
Z 1
at j!t
= e dt
0
1 (a+j!)t
1
= e
a + j! 0
1
= .
a + j!

To visualize X(j!), we need to plot its magnitude and phase with respect to !
on separate plots. We will revisit this later.

7
 Example 2

Consider the unit impulse signal x(t) = (t). Find its Fourier transform.

The Fourier Transform is

Z 1
j!t
X(j!) = x(t)e dt
1
Z 1
j!t
= (t)e dt
1
= 1.

In other words, the spectrum of the impulse signal has equal contribution from
all frequencies.

8
 Example 3

Find the Fourier transform of x(t) which takes value 0 for |t| > S and x(t) = 1
for |t|  S.