Help with fourier transform
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Hello.
How does this function do Fourier transform?
f(t)=(1/√2)e^(-t^2/2a^2)
A is a constant.
Answers (1)
Star Strider
on 29 Aug 2019
Try this:
syms a t w
f(t)=(1/sqrt(2))*exp(-t^2/2*a^2)
F(w) = int(f*exp(1j*w*t), t);
F(w) = simplify(F, 'Steps', 050)
producing:
F(w) =
((-pi)^(1/2)*erf((2^(1/2)*(t*a^2*1i + w))/(2*(-a^2)^(1/2)))*exp(-w^2/(2*a^2)))/(2*(-a^2)^(1/2))
or:

6 Comments
YiJing Pan
on 29 Aug 2019
Bruno Luong
on 29 Aug 2019
Edited: Bruno Luong
on 29 Aug 2019
This results looks odd.The FT of a Gaussian is a Gaussian
Not sure why MATLAB returns ERF term (actually I do know).
Star Strider
on 29 Aug 2019
My pleasure.
This calculates the indefinite integral. You need to substitute the appropriate time values for ‘t’, and then evaluate it as you would for any integral. (If the ‘t’ values are symmetrical, for example [-T +T] some terms may cancel, resulting in a simpler expression for the definite integral.) Then plot it as a function of ‘w’ (actually ω or
). Add a constant of integration as well, if you want to.
It is also necessary to provide numerical values for ‘a’ and ‘T’:
syms a t T w
f(t)=(1/sqrt(2))*exp(-t^2/2*a^2)
F(w) = int(f*exp(1j*w*t), t, -T, T);
F = subs(F,{a,T},{5, 10});
F(w) = simplify(F, 'Steps', 500)
a = 1;
figure
fplot(real(F(w)), [-20 20]*pi)
hold on
fplot(imag(F(w)), [-20 20]*pi)
hold off
The evaluated and substituted function is then:

Experiment to get the result you want.
Yi-Jing Pan
on 31 Aug 2019
Thank you very much!!!!
I will try it !
Star Strider
on 31 Aug 2019
My pleasure!
Bruno Luong
on 31 Aug 2019
This formula is wrong. The ERF terms must be removed, otherwise it is not Fourier transform.
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