Lecture Notes on Wave Optics (03/19/14)

2.71/2.710 Introduction to Optics –Nick Fang

Mathematical Preparation of Fourier Transform

- Fourier Transform in time domain

A time signal f (t) can be expressed as a series of frequency components F():
∞
𝑓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡) = ∫−∞ 𝐹(𝑟⃗, 𝜔) exp(−𝑖𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝜔
∞
1
𝐹(𝑟⃗, 𝜔) = ∫ 𝑓(𝑟⃗, 𝑡) exp(+𝑖𝜔𝑡) 𝑑𝑡
2𝜋
−∞
The functions f (t) and F() are referred to as Fourier Transform pairs.

- Fourier Transform in spatial domain

A spatially varying signal 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)can be expressed as a series of spatial-frequency
components 𝐹(𝑘𝑥 , 𝑘𝑦 ):

1 ∞ ∞
𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) = ∫−∞ ∫−∞ 𝐹(𝑘𝑥 , 𝑘𝑦 ) exp(𝑖𝑘𝑥 𝑥) exp(𝑖𝑘𝑦 𝑦) 𝑑𝑘𝑥 𝑑𝑘𝑦
(2𝜋)2

∞ ∞
𝐹(𝑘𝑥 , 𝑘𝑦 ) = ∫−∞ ∫−∞ 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦) exp(−𝑖𝑘𝑥 𝑥) exp(−𝑖𝑘𝑦 𝑦) 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑦

Accordingly, the functions 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)and 𝐹(𝑘𝑥 , 𝑘𝑦 )are referred to as spatial-Fourier

Transform pairs.

- A few famous functions

o Rectangle function
1
1, |𝑥| < 1
2
1 1 rect(x)
𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡(𝑥) ≡ , |𝑥| =
2 2
1
0, |𝑥| >
{ 2 -.5 0 .5 x

o Sinc function
sin⁡(𝜋𝑥)
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐(𝑥) =
𝜋𝑥

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Lecture Notes on Wave Optics (03/19/14)
2.71/2.710 Introduction to Optics –Nick Fang

sinc(x)

zeros at x=
np (n ≠ 0)

o Triangle Function
1 − |𝑥|, |𝑥| < 1
Λ(𝑥) ≡ {
0, |𝑥| ≥ 1

Λ(𝑥)
1

-1 0 1 x
o Step function

1, 𝑥>0
1
𝐻(𝑥) ≡ { , 𝑥=0
2
0, 𝑥<0

o Comb function
∞

𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏(𝑥) = ∑ 𝛿(𝑥 − 𝑛)
𝑛=−∞

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Lecture Notes on Wave Optics (03/19/14)
2.71/2.710 Introduction to Optics –Nick Fang

- Interesting properties of Fourier Transform:

o Scale theorem 𝑓(𝑎𝑥)

f(x) F(kx)

x kx

x
kx

x kx

o Shift theorem⁡𝑓(𝑥 − 𝑎),

(e.g. double slit)

t(x) = rect[(x+a)/w] + rect[(x-a)/w]

t(x) w w

-a 0 a x

o Complex Conjugate 𝑓 ∗ (𝑥)

𝑑
o Derivative⁡ 𝑓(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

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Lecture Notes on Wave Optics (03/19/14)
2.71/2.710 Introduction to Optics –Nick Fang

2𝜋
o Modulation 𝑓(𝑥)cos⁡( 𝑥)
𝐿

2𝜋 𝐹(𝑘𝑥 ) 𝛿 𝑘− +𝛿 𝑘+
𝑓(𝑥)cos( 𝑥)

x
-G0 0 G0 kx

- Practice problem: can you apply these theorems in (x, y) plane?

Accordingly, the following functions 𝑓(𝑥, 𝑦)and 𝐹(𝑘𝑥 , 𝑘𝑦 )are referred to as spatial-
Fourier Transform pairs.

Functions Fourier Transform Pairs

𝑥 𝑎𝑘𝑥
𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 ( ) |𝑎|𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐 ( )
𝑎 2𝜋
𝑥 𝑎𝑘𝑥
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐 ( ) |𝑎|𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡 ( )
𝑎 2𝜋
𝑥 𝑎𝑘𝑥
Λ( ) |𝑎|2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑐 2 ( )
𝑎 2𝜋
𝑥 𝑎𝑘𝑥
comb ( ) |𝑎|𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑏 ( )
𝑎 2𝜋
𝑥2 𝑎2
Gaussian 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (− ) 𝑒𝑥𝑝 (− 𝑘𝑥 2 )
𝑎2 4𝜋
1 1
Step function 𝐻(𝑥) + (𝛿(𝑘𝑥 ))
𝑖𝑘𝑥 2
2𝜋𝐽1 (𝑎√𝑘𝑥 2 + 𝑘𝑦 2 )
√𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2
𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐 ( ) |𝑎|2
𝑎
𝑎√𝑘𝑥 2 + 𝑘𝑦 2

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