Questions tagged [fourier-analysis]
The representation of functions (or objects which are in some generalize the notion of function) as constant linear combinations of sines and cosines at integer multiples of a given frequency, as Fourier transforms or as Fourier integrals.
1,489
questions
147
votes
11
answers
29k
views
Is Fourier analysis a special case of representation theory or an analogue?
I'm asking this question because I've been told by some people that Fourier analysis is "just representation theory of $S^1$."
I've been introduced to the idea that Fourier analysis is related to ...
- 15.1k
94
votes
6
answers
13k
views
Quasicrystals and the Riemann Hypothesis
Let $0 < k_1 < k_2 < k_3 < \cdots $ be all the zeros of the Riemann zeta function on the critical line:
$$ \zeta(\frac{1}{2} + i k_j) = 0 $$
Let $f$ be the Fourier transform of the sum ...
- 21.5k
71
votes
4
answers
10k
views
What are fixed points of the Fourier Transform
The obvious ones are 0 and $e^{-x^2}$ (with annoying factors), and someone I know suggested hyperbolic secant. What other fixed points (or even eigenfunctions) of the Fourier transform are there?
- 1,461
65
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How Does My Radio Work?
Bear with me for a moment while I invoke the real world; the main question at the end is purely mathematical.
I live in an area with $n$ AM radio stations and $m$ FM radio stations.
AM station ...
- 22.5k
62
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Jean Bourgain's relatively lesser known significant contributions
Jean Bourgain passed away on December 22, 2018.
A great mathematician is no longer with us.
Terry Tao has blogged about Bourgain's death and mentioned some of his more recent significant contributions,...
58
votes
6
answers
12k
views
How does one use the Poisson summation formula?
While reading the answer to another Mathoverflow question, which mentioned the Poisson summation formula, I felt a question of my own coming on. This is something I've wanted to know for a long time. ...
- 28.7k
58
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Square root of dirac delta function
Is there a measurable function $ f:\mathbb{R}\to \mathbb{R}^+ $ so that $ f*f(x)=1 $ for all $ x\in \mathbb{R} $, i.e $$\int\limits_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(t)f(x-t) dt=1 $$ for all $ x\in \mathbb{R} $.
- 807
55
votes
7
answers
27k
views
Learning roadmap for harmonic analysis
In short, I am interested to know of the various approaches one could take to learn modern harmonic analysis in depth. However, the question deserves additional details. Currently, I am reading Loukas ...
51
votes
6
answers
12k
views
What does Mellin inversion "really mean"?
Given a function $f: \mathbb{R}^+ \rightarrow \mathbb{C}$ satisfying suitable conditions (exponential decay at infinity, continuous, and bounded variation) is good enough, its Mellin transform is ...
- 7,199
49
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Is this Riemann zeta function product equal to the Fourier transform of the von Mangoldt function?
Mathematica knows that:
$$\log(n) = \lim\limits_{s \rightarrow 1} \zeta(s)\left(1 - \frac{1}{n^{(s - 1)}}\right)\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\;\; (1)$$
The von Mangoldt function should then be:
$$\Lambda(n)=...
48
votes
6
answers
6k
views
Is there an "elegant" non-recursive formula for these coefficients? Also, how can one get proofs of these patterns?
Not sure if this is a "good" question for this forum or if it'll get panned, but here goes anyway...
Consider this problem. I've been trying to find a formula to expand the "regular iteration" of "...
47
votes
6
answers
11k
views
Intuition for Integral Transforms
It is well known that the operations of differentiation and integration are reduced to multiplication and division after being transformed by an integral transform (like e.g. Fourier or Laplace ...
- 5,875
44
votes
10
answers
25k
views
Fourier transform for dummies [closed]
So ... what is the Fourier transform? What does it do? Why is it useful (both in math and in engineering, physics, etc)?
(Answers at any level of sophistication are welcome.)
- 20.8k
44
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Truth of the Poisson summation formula
The Poisson summation says, roughly, that summing a smooth $L^1$-function of a real variable at integral points is the same as summing its Fourier transform at integral points(after suitable ...
- 481
43
votes
10
answers
46k
views
Is square of Delta function defined somewhere?
I am wondering whether anyone knows if the square of Dirac Delta function is defined somewhere.
In the beginning, this question might look strange. But by restricting the space of the test functions, ...
40
votes
7
answers
4k
views
How should an analytic number theorist look at Bessel functions?
(And a related question: Where should an analytic number theorist learn about Bessel functions?)
Bessel functions occur quite frequently in analytic number theory. One example, Corollary 4.7 of ...
- 7,199
40
votes
6
answers
86k
views
Fourier vs Laplace transforms
In solving a linear system, when would I use a Fourier transform versus a Laplace transform? I am not a mathematician, so the little intuition I have tells me that it could be related to the boundary ...
- 401
38
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is the set of primes "translation-finite"?
The definition in the title probably needs explaining. I should say that the question itself was an idea I had for someone else's undergraduate research project, but we decided early on it would be ...
- 25.5k
35
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Do convolution and multiplication satisfy any nontrivial algebraic identities?
For (suitable) real- or complex-valued functions $f$ and $g$ on a (suitable) abelian group $G$, we have two bilinear operations: multiplication -
$$(f\cdot g)(x) = f(x)g(x),$$
and convolution -
$$(f*...
- 5,932
34
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Why is Fourier analysis so handy for proving the isoperimetric inequality?
I have just completed an introductory course on analysis, and have been looking over my notes for the year. For me, although it was certainly not the most powerful or important theorem which we ...
- 11.9k
34
votes
7
answers
8k
views
Explicit formula for Riemann zeros counting function
I've often seen it stated (in vague terms) that there's a Fourier duality between the set of prime numbers and the set of nontrivial Riemann zeta zeros.
Because there are various explicit formulae ...
- 371
33
votes
4
answers
11k
views
Range of the Fourier transform on $L^1$
It is well known that the Fourier transform $\mathcal{F}$ maps
$L^1(\mathbb{R}^d)$ into, but not onto, $\overline{C_0^0}(\mathbb{R}^d)$, where the closure is taken in the $L^\infty$ norm. This is a ...
- 842
33
votes
1
answer
2k
views
For which maps $S^1\to S^1$ is the winding number defined?
There are two classes of maps $S^1\to S^1$ for which I know how to define the winding number:
• Continuous maps:
Using the unique path lifting property of the universal covering map $\mathbb R\to S^...
- 42.5k
33
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Fourier transform on the discrete cube
Notation: identify an element of $\{-1,1\}^n$ with the set $S \subseteq \{1, \ldots, n\}$ on which it takes the value $-1$.
The following is an asymptotic question. "Close to one" means "more than $...
- 42.1k
29
votes
6
answers
8k
views
Does there exist a continuous function of compact support with Fourier transform outside L^1?
Let f be a complex-valued function of one real variable, continuous and compactly supported. Can it have a Fourier transform that is not Lebesgue integrable?
- 303
29
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Furstenberg's Conjecture on 2-3-invariant continuous probability measures on the circle
Hillel Furstenberg conjectured that the only $2$-$3$-invariant probability measure on the circle without atoms is the Lebesgue measure. More precisely:
Question: (Furstenberg) Let $\mu$ be a ...
- 25.3k
28
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How do I compare the different notions of Fourier transform for sheaves?
There is a close but not perfect relationship between algebraic D-modules on C^n, constructible sheaves on C^n in the analytic topology, and \ell-adic sheaves on an n-dimensional vector space over a ...
- 4,849
27
votes
2
answers
5k
views
What can be said about the Fourier transforms of characteristic functions?
What can be said about the Fourier transform of the characteristic function $1_A$, where $A\subset \mathbb{R}^n$ is of finite Lebesgue measure? In particular,
What properties are common to ...
- 2,699
26
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Nice applications for Schwartz distributions
I am to teach a second year grad course in analysis with focus on Schwartz distributions. Among the core topics I intend to cover are:
Some multilinear algebra including the Kernel Theorem and ...
- 21.8k
26
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Image of L^1 under the Fourier Transform
The Fourier Transform $\mathcal{F}:L^1(\mathbb{R})\to C_0(\mathbb{R})$ is an injective, bounded linear map that isn't onto. It is known (if I remember correctly) that the range isn't closed, but is ...
- 1,012
26
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Linear combination of sine and cosine
I was explaining to my students the other day why $\cos(2x)$ is not a linear combination of $\sin(x)$ and $\cos(x)$ over $\mathbb{R}$. Besides the canonical method of using special values of sine and ...
- 950
25
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Parametrization of the boundary of the Mandelbrot set
Does anyone know how to parametrize the boundary of the Mandelbrot set? I am not a fractal-geometer or a dynamical systems person. I just have some idle curiosity about this question.
The ...
- 1,267
25
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Convergence of Fourier Series of $L^1$ Functions
I recently learned of the result by Carleson and Hunt (1968) which states that if $f \in L^p$ for $p > 1$, then the Fourier series of $f$ converges to $f$ pointwise-a.e. Also, Wikipedia informs me ...
- 871
24
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Can Hölder's Inequality be strengthened for smooth functions?
Is there an $\epsilon>0$ so that for every nonnegative integrable function $f$ on the reals,
$$\frac{\| f \ast f \|_\infty \| f \ast f \|_1}{\|f \ast f \|_2^2} > 1+\epsilon?$$
Of course, we ...
- 9,666
24
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is there a 'certainty' principle?
Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is a restriction on which probability distributions can describe the position and momentum of a quantum particle.
In mathematical terms it says that if $\psi\in L^2$ ...
- 3,077
23
votes
4
answers
3k
views
What is the shortest route to Roth's theorem?
Roth first proved that any subset of the integers with positive density contains a three term arithmetic progression in 1953. Since then, many other proofs have emerged (I can think of eight off the ...
- 6,608
23
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What's the relationship between Gauss sums and the normal distribution?
Let $p$ be an odd prime and $\left( \frac{a}{p} \right)$ the Legendre symbol. The Gauss sum
$\displaystyle g_p(a) = \sum_{k=0}^{p-1} \left( \frac{k}{p} \right) \zeta^{ak},$
where $\zeta_p = e^{ \...
- 115k
22
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Uncertainty principle for Mellin transform
Let $f:\mathbb{R}^+\to \mathbb{C}$. Let $Mf$ be its Mellin transform: $Mf(s) = \int_0^\infty f(x) x^{s-1} dx$.
(a) Some time ago, I convinced myself that
$f(t)$, $Mf(\sigma+it)$ and $Mf(\sigma-it)$ ...
- 19.4k
21
votes
4
answers
6k
views
When I can safely assume that a function is a Laplace transform of other function?
If I have a function and I want to represent it as being the Laplace transform of another, that is, I want to be sure that there is $\hat{f}(s)$ such that my function $f(x)$ can be written as:
$$f(x) =...
- 873
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
(update) Is there always a real $x$ such that $\cos n_1 x + \cos n_2 x + \cos n_3 x < -2$?
Problem: Given three positive integers $0 < n_1 < n_2 < n_3$ such that
$$n_1 + n_2 \ne n_3, \quad n_2 \ne 2n_1, \quad n_3 \ne 2n_1, \quad n_3 \ne 2n_2,$$
is there always a real number $x$ ...
- 848
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
When are Fourier coefficients monotonic?
Given some sufficiently smooth function $f$ what conditions would be sufficient for its Fourier coefficients, as defined by
$$
\hat{f}(n) := \int_{0}^{2\pi}\cos(nx)f(x)\ dx, \quad \text{for } n = 1,2,\...
- 575
21
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there an L^p tauberian theorem?
From Wiener's tauberian theorem we know that linear combinations of translates of f \in L^1(R) are dense in L^1(R) if and only if the Fourier transform of f never vanishes. It is also known that ...
- 11.8k
21
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Fast Fourier transform for graph Laplacian?
In the case of a regularly-sampled scalar-valued signal $f$ on the real line, we can construct a discrete linear operator $A$ such that $A(f)$ approximates $\partial^2 f / \partial x^2$. One way to ...
- 3,049
20
votes
1
answer
5k
views
A Fourier-analytic inequality used by Jean Bourgain
I am currently reading Jean Bourgain's 1986 paper A Szemerédi type theorem for sets of positive density in $R^k$ and would appreciate some help in understanding a Fourier-analytic estimate used in ...
- 6,186
20
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Origin of the term "sinc" function
Is the sinc function defined here, really a short form of "sinus cardinalis" as proposed by Wikipedia? This information is deleted now but it existed some time ago. Even if we search Google Books for ...
- 803
20
votes
4
answers
8k
views
FFTs over finite fields?
I'm trying to understand how to compute a fast Fourier transform over a finite field. This question arose in the analysis of some BCH codes.
Consider the finite field $F$ with $2^n$ elements. It is ...
- 3,809
20
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Fourier transform of $f_a(x)= a^{-2}\exp(-|x|^a)$, $a \in (0,2)$, is decreasing in $a$
Can one show that Fourier transform of
$$ f_a(x) = a^{-2} \exp(-|x|^a), \qquad a \in (0,2)$$
is decreasing in $a$?
I have a solution for $a \in (0,1]$ which cannot be used for $a\in (1,2)$.
- 168
19
votes
3
answers
844
views
In what ways is the standard Fourier basis optimal?
Is there any convincing sense in which the standard trigonometric basis for
the space $V$ of square-integrable real-valued functions on $[-\pi,\pi]$ is
optimal among all the orthonormal bases?
(If ...
- 19.4k
19
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Laplace Transform in the context of Gelfand/Pontryagin
Question: Do quasi-characters or some other semi-group properly generalize the Laplace transform or decompose functions in some setting in a way similar to how characters generalize the classical ...
- 899
18
votes
3
answers
3k
views
A curious sin-integral
While contending with a certain Fourier series, I stumbled on an incredibly simple evaluation (numerically) of a slightly complicated-looking sin-integral.
So, I wish ask:
Question. Is this really ...
- 41.8k