How can duality be used to solve for the Fourier Transform of a constant?

In summary, to find the Fourier Transform of 1, use duality and compute the Fourier transform of the delta function. This will result in a constant, meaning that the Fourier transform of a constant is a delta function. Look up duality for Fourier transforms for more information.
  • #1
dimension10
371
0
How does one find the Fourier Transform of 1?

[tex]\mathscr{F}\{1\}=\mathcal{F}\{1\}=\int\limits_{-\infty}^{\infty}{e}^{-i \omega t} \mbox{d}t=?[/tex]

I tried to solve it and came up with

[tex]\sqrt{\frac{2}{\pi}}\frac{1}{\omega}\lim_{t \rightarrow \infty}\sin\left(\omega t\right) [/tex]

but that is indeterminate whereas actual answer is

[tex]\sqrt{2\pi}\delta\left(\omega\right)[/tex]

So how does one actually solve this Fourier Transform.

Thanks in advance.
 
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  • #2
Use duality. Compute the Fourier transform of the delta function and you get a constant, so the Fourier transform of a constant is a delta function. Just look up duality for Fourier transforms and you'll see what I mean.
 
  • #3
homeomorphic said:
Use duality. Compute the Fourier transform of the delta function and you get a constant, so the Fourier transform of a constant is a delta function. Just look up duality for Fourier transforms and you'll see what I mean.

Thanks a lot!
 
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FAQ: How can duality be used to solve for the Fourier Transform of a constant?

What is the Fourier transform of 1?

The Fourier transform of 1 is a constant function that has a value of 1 at all frequencies.

How is the Fourier transform of 1 calculated?

The Fourier transform of 1 is calculated by taking the integral of the function 1 multiplied by the complex exponential e^(-i2πft) from -∞ to ∞, where f represents frequency.

What is the physical significance of the Fourier transform of 1?

The Fourier transform of 1 is often used as a reference function in signal processing and image analysis. It represents the presence of all frequencies in a signal or image, as all frequencies have a value of 1.

Can the Fourier transform of 1 be used to reconstruct the original signal or image?

No, the Fourier transform of 1 cannot be used to reconstruct the original signal or image as it does not contain any information about the specific frequencies present in the signal or image.

How does the Fourier transform of 1 relate to the Fourier series of a periodic function?

The Fourier transform of 1 can be seen as the limit of the Fourier series of a periodic function as the period approaches infinity. This means that the Fourier transform of 1 can be thought of as a continuous spectrum of all frequencies, while the Fourier series only contains a finite number of harmonically related frequencies.

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