Principles of Fourier Analysis

Book excerpt: Fourier analysis is one of the most useful and widely employed sets of tools for the engineer, the scientist, and the applied mathematician. As such, students and practitioners in these disciplines need a practical and mathematically solid introduction to its principles. They need straightforward verifications of its results and formulas, and they need clear indications of the limitations of those results and formulas. Principles of Fourier Analysis furnishes all this and more. It provides a comprehensive overview of the mathematical theory of Fourier analysis, including the development of Fourier series, "classical" Fourier transforms, generalized Fourier transforms and analysis, and the discrete theory. Much of the author's development is strikingly different from typical presentations. His approach to defining the classical Fourier transform results in a much cleaner, more coherent theory that leads naturally to a starting point for the generalized theory. He also introduces a new generalized theory based on the use of Gaussian test functions that yields an even more general -yet simpler -theory than usually presented. Principles of Fourier Analysis stimulates the appreciation and understanding of the fundamental concepts and serves both beginning students who have seen little or no Fourier analysis as well as the more advanced students who need a deeper understanding. Insightful, non-rigorous derivations motivate much of the material, and thought-provoking examples illustrate what can go wrong when formulas are misused. With clear, engaging exposition, readers develop the ability to intelligently handle the more sophisticated mathematics that Fourier analysis ultimately requires.