Operators as Fourier Transforms
Definition1
The Fourier Transform of the function $f$
$$ \widehat{f} (\gamma ) := \int_{\mathbb{R}} f(x) e^{-2 \pi i x \gamma} dx, \quad \gamma \in \mathbb{R} $$
can also be represented as the following operator $\mathcal{F}$.
$$ (\mathcal{F} f) (\gamma ) := \widehat{f} ( \gamma ) $$
Description
Fourier Transform is widely used throughout analysis and the two expressions $\widehat{f}$ and $\mathcal{F} f$ essentially do not differ, but there is a slight nuance in the use of symbols. When emphasis is on practical calculation, formulas, and quick notation, $\widehat{f}$ is preferred, and when the properties and order of operations as an operator are important, $\mathcal{F}$ is preferred.
Let us define $f,g \in L^{1}$.
- For $a \in \mathbb{R}$
$$ \mathcal{F} T_{a} = E_{-a} \mathcal{F} $$
- For $b \in \mathbb{R}$
$$ \mathcal{F} E_{b} = T_{b} \mathcal{F} $$
- For $c \ne 0$
$$ \mathcal{F} D_{c} = D_{1/c} \mathcal{F} $$
- Convolution:
$$ \mathcal{F} ( f \ast\ g) = (\mathcal{F} f \cdot \mathcal{F} g) $$
1~3: $T_{a}, E_{b}, D_{c}$ refers to Translation, Modulation, Dilation.
4: $\ast$ is Convolution convolution, and $\cdot$ simply means the product of functions. In other words, for $\gamma \in \mathbb{R}$
$$ \widehat{f \ast\ g} (\gamma) = \widehat{f} (\gamma) \widehat{g} (\gamma) $$
Let $f , g \in L^{2}$.
Norm: $$ \left\| \mathcal{F} f \right\|_{2} = \left\| f \right\|_{2} $$
Inner Product:
$$ \langle \mathcal{F} f , \mathcal{F} g \rangle = \langle f , g \rangle $$
The above properties are well-known ones in Fourier analysis, represented again in the language of operator theory.
Proof
Refer to here for the proofs of 1~4.
■
See Also
- Derivation of Fourier Transform
- Various Definitions and Notations of Fourier Transform
- Various Interpretations of Fourier Transform
Ole Christensen, Functions, Spaces, and Expansions: Mathematical Tools in Physics and Engineering (2010), p126-127 ↩︎