8.3 Properties of the ctft

Introduction

This module will look at some of the basic properties of the Continuous-Time Fourier Transform (CTFT).

Discussion of fourier transform properties

Linearity

The combined addition and scalar multiplication properties in the table above demonstrate the basic property oflinearity. What you should see is that if one takes the Fourier transform of a linear combination of signals then itwill be the same as the linear combination of the Fourier transforms of each of the individual signals. This is crucialwhen using a table of transforms to find the transform of a more complicated signal.

Symmetry

Symmetry is a property that can make life quite easy when solving problems involving Fourier transforms. Basicallywhat this property says is that since a rectangular function in time is a sinc function in frequency, then a sincfunction in time will be a rectangular function in frequency. This is a direct result of the similaritybetween the forward CTFT and the inverse CTFT. The onlydifference is the scaling by $2\pi$ and a frequency reversal.

Time scaling

This property deals with the effect on the frequency-domain representation of a signal if the time variable isaltered. The most important concept to understand for the time scaling property is that signals that are narrow intime will be broad in frequency and vice versa . The simplest example of this is a delta function, a unit pulse with a very small duration, in time that becomes an infinite-length constant function in frequency.

The table above shows this idea for the general transformation from the time-domain to the frequency-domainof a signal. You should be able to easily notice that these equations show the relationship mentioned previously: if thetime variable is increased then the frequency range will be decreased.

Time shifting

Time shifting shows that a shift in time is equivalent to a linear phase shift in frequency. Since the frequencycontent depends only on the shape of a signal, which is unchanged in a time shift, then only the phase spectrum willbe altered. This property is proven below:

Convolution

Convolution is one of the big reasons for converting signals to the frequency domain, since convolution in time becomesmultiplication in frequency. This property is also another excellent example of symmetry between time and frequency.It also shows that there may be little to gain by changing to the frequency domain when multiplication in time isinvolved.

We will introduce the convolution integral here, but if you have not seen this before or need to refresh your memory,then look at the continuous-time convolution module for a more in depth explanation and derivation.

Time differentiation

Since LTI systems can be represented in terms of differential equations, it is apparent with this property that convertingto the frequency domain may allow us to convert these complicated differential equations to simpler equationsinvolving multiplication and addition. This is often looked at in more detail during the study of the Laplace Transform .

Parseval's relation

Modulation (frequency shift)

Modulation is absolutely imperative to communications applications. Being able to shift a signal to a differentfrequency, allows us to take advantage of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum is what allows us to transmittelevision, radio and other applications through the same space without significant interference.

The proof of the frequency shift property is very similar to that of the time shift ; however, here we would use the inverse Fourier transform in place of the Fourier transform. Since we wentthrough the steps in the previous, time-shift proof, below we will just show the initial and final step to this proof:

Properties demonstration

An interactive example demonstration of the properties is included below:

Summary table of ctft properties