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Introduction
In this Section we show
how a Fourier series can be expressed more concisely if we introduce
the complex number i = 1. By utilising the Euler formula:
ei = cos + i sin
we can replace the trigonometric functions by complex exponential functions. By also combining
the Fourier coecients an and bn into a complex coecient cn through
1
cn = (an ibn )
2
we nd that, for a given periodic signal, both sets of constants can be found in one operation.
We also obtain Parsevals Theorem which has important applications in electrical engineering.
The complex formulation of a Fourier series is an important pre-cursor of the Fourier transform
which attempts to Fourier analyse non-periodic functions.
' $
know how to obtain a Fourier series
a0
f (t) = + (an cos n0 t + bn sin n0 t).
2 n=1
We have seen that the Fourier coecients are calculated using the following integrals:
T
an = T2 2T f (t) cos n0 t dt n = 0, 1, 2, . . . (1)
2
2
T2
bn = T T2
f (t) sin n0 t dt n = 1, 2, . . . (2)
An alternative, more concise form, of a Fourier Series is available using complex quantities. This
form is quite widely used by Engineers, for example in Circuit Theory and Control Theory, and,
in this course, will lead naturally into a later Section on the Fourier Transform.
z = a + ib,
where a and b are real numbers and i2 = 1, can be written in polar form
z = r(cos + i sin )
where r = |z| = a2 + b2 and , the argument or phase of z, is such that
a = r cos b = r sin .
A more concise version of the polar form of z can be obtained by dening a complex expo-
nential quantity ei by
ei = cos + i sin
(This is sometimes known as Eulers relation.) The polar angle is normally expressed in
radians.
Replacing i by i we obtain
ei = cos i sin
Your solution
6 6 2 2 6 6 2 2
i sin = i ei/6 = cos + i sin = ei/6 = cos
+i
3 1 3 1
We have, by denition,
Write down (i) cos 6
(ii) sin 6
in terms of ei/6 and ei/6 .
Your solution
Clearly similar calculations could be carried out for any angle and the results are summarised
in the following Key Point.
1 i 1 i
cos = e + ei sin = e ei
2 2i
an cos n + bn sin n
Using the results from the last Key Point (with n instead of ) rewrite
an cos n + bn sin n
2 2i
ein + ein + e ein an cos n + bn sin n =
n
a bn in
so
2i 2
e ein bn sin n = e + ein an cos n =
bn in an in
We have
2 2
(an ibn )ein + (an + ibn )ein .
1 1
i i
= 2 = i or, since
1 i
i 2 i 2
ein an ein + an +
bn 1 bn 1
We get
A neater, and particularly concise, form of this expression can be obtained as follows:
Firstly write a20 = c0 (which is consistent with the general denition of cn since b0 = 0)
The second term in the summation
cn ein0 t = c1 ei0 t + c2 e2i0 t + . . .
n=1
The complex Fourier coecients cn can be readily obtained as follows using (1) and (2) for
an , b n .
Firstly
T
a0 1 2
c0 = = f (t)dt (4)
2 T T2
For n = 1, 2, 3, . . . we have
T
1 1 2
cn = (an ibn ) = f (t)(cos n0 t i sin n0 t)dt
2 T T2
T2
i.e. cn = 1
T T2
f (t)ein0 t dt (5)
The 3 equations (4), (5), (6) can thus all be contained in the one expression
T
1 2
cn = f (t)ein0 t dt for n = 0, 1, 2, 3, . . .
T T2
The results of this discussion are summarised in the following Key Point.
Key Point
Fourier Series in Complex Form
A function f (t) of period T has a complex Fourier series
T
1 2
f (t) = cn e in0 t
where cn = f (t)ein0 t dt
n=
T T2
If f (t) is odd, what can you deduce about the Fourier coecients cn ?
Your solution
of cn ) are zero, then in this case the complex coecients cn are wholly imaginary.
Since, for an odd periodic function the Fourier coecients an (which constitute the real part
1. Since T
1 2
cn = f (t)ein0 t dt
T T2
then if f (t) is even, so cn will be real, we have two possible methods for evaluating cn :
(a) evaluate the integral above as it stands i.e. over the full range T2 , T2 : note
carefully that the second term in the integrand is neither an even nor an odd function
so the integrand itself is
(even function) (neither even nor odd function) = neither even nor odd function.
Thus we cannot write T /2
2
cn = f (t)ein0 t dt
T 0
= (even)(even) i(even)(odd)
= (even) i(odd).
Hence T
2 2 an
cn = f (t) cos n0 t dt = .
T 0 2
Example Find the complex Fourier Series of the sawtooth wave shown:
f (t)
T T 2T t
Solution
We have
At
f (t) = 0<t<T
T
f (t + T ) = f (t)
The period is T in this case so
2
0 =
.
T
Looking at the graph of f (t) we can say immediately
A
f (t) = + g(t),
2
where g(t) is an odd function with complex Fourier coecients that are purely imaginary.
T ein0 T 1 in0 t
T
= e 0
(in0 ) (in0 )2
2
But 0 = T
so
Hence
A T iA
cn = 2 = n = 1, 2, . . .
T in0 2n
Note that
iA iA
cn = = = cn as it must
2(n) 2n
1
T At A
Also c0 = T 0 T
dt = 2
as expected.
Hence the required complex Fourier Series is
A iA ein0 t
f (t) = +
2 2 n= n
n=0
which could be written, showing only the constant and the rst two harmonics as
A ei20 t i0 t ei20 t
f (t) = ... i ie + + iei0 t
+i + ... .
2 2 2
The corresponding trigonometric Fourier Series for the function can be readily obtained from
this complex series by combining the terms in n, n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
f (t) = et <t<
f (t + 2) = f (t)
f (t)
3 t
2
et eint dt cn =
1
=1 0 We have, since T = 2 so
Now combine the real exponential and the complex exponential as one term and carry out the
integration
Your solution
In words the theorem states that the mean square value of the signal f (t) over one period equals
the sum of the squared magnitudes of all the complex Fourier coecients.
in0 t 2
f (t) = cn e 0 =
n=
T
where T
1 2
cn = f (t)ein0 t dt
T T2
Then
f 2 (t) = f (t)f (t) = f (t) cn ein0 t = cn f (t)ein0 t dt
Hence
T T
1 2
2 1 2
f (t)dt = cn f (t)ein0 t dt
T T2 T T2
1
T
2
= cn f (t)ein0 t dt
T T2
= cn cn
= |cn |2
n=
an ibn an + ibn
c0 = a0
2
cn = n = 1, 2, 3, . . . cn = n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
2 2
so
a2n + b2n
|cn | =
2
n = 1, 2, 3, . . .
4
HELM (VERSION 1: March 19, 2004): Workbook Level 2 12
23.6: The Complex Form
so
a20
a2n + b2n
|cn | =
2
+2
n=
4 n=1
4
and hence Parsevals Theorem becomes
T
a20 1 2
1 2
2
f (t)dt = + (a + b2n ) . . . ()
T T2 4 2 n=1 n
f (t)
4 cos nt
f (t) = .
2 n=1 n2
(odd n)
1 4
Use Parsevals Theorem to show that = .
n=1
n4 96
(n odd)
Your solution
f (t + 2) = f (t)
<t< f (t) = |t|
Also
n = 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . bn = 0
n = 2, 4, 6, . . . 0
an =
n = 1, 3, 5, . . . n42
2
= 2
We have
a0
Now evaluate the integral on the left hand side of Parsevals Theorem and hence complete the
problem.
Your solution