A Biief Biscussion 0f j anu e Fiom The Peispective 0f Signal Piocessing

by cawan (cawan[at]ieee.org or chuiyewleong[at]hotmail.com)

on 03/11/2013


We all know about this equation

j = !1 (1)

When we multiply an integei n with j, then it becomes nj. If we multiply nj with j
again, then it becomes -n. Again, if we multiply -n with j, it becomes -nj. If we
multiply the -nj with j again, then we get n. So, if we keep multiplying an integei
with j, then we get a iepeating seiies, n, nj, -n, -nj, n, nj, -n, -nj, n,.

If we assume the j is iesiuing at imaginaiy axis, which is oithogonal to the ieal
axis in a complex plane, then the iepeating seiies can be plotteu on the complex
plane as a iotating ciicle in anticlockwise. 0n the othei hanu, if the integei n
keeps multiplying with -j (insteau of +j), then the iotating ciicle is in clockwise.
Now, we neeu to piove the j is ieally oithogonal to the ieal axis. If we uefine the
ieal axis as x axis anu imaginaiy axis as y axis, foi any point locateu at the
complex plane can be expiesseu as (x, y). Foi the case of a ciicle on the complex
plane, if a point (x, y) iotates an angle ! in anticlockwise, the new point (x1, y2)
can be expiesseu as

x1= xcos(!) ! ysin(!) (2)

y1= xsin(!) + ycos(!) (S)

0n the othei hanu, if we iepiesent (x, y) as a complex numbei, x+jy, anu multiply
it with e
j!
, then what will happen. Well, Eulei's equation tolu us

e
j!
= cos(!) + j sin(!) (4)

So,

(x + jy)e
j!
= (x + jy)(cos(!) + j sin(!))
= xcos(!) + jxsin(!) + jycon(!) ! ysin(!)
= xcos(!) ! ysin(!) + j(xsin(!) + ycos(!)) (S)

Appaiently, equation (S) is matching to equation (2) anu (S). Thus, we can say
that now foi any point (x, y) locateu at a complex plane, if the point iotates an
angle ! in anticlockwise, then the new point (x1, x2) can be obtaineu by
multiplying (x, y) with e
j!
. Foi the same ieason, if a point at ieal axis iotates 90

in anticlockwise, then the point shoulu multiply with e
j
!
2
in oiuei to get to the
new point. If we expiess e
j
!
2
in polai foim, then

e
j
!
2
= cos
!
2
!
"
#
$
%
&
+ j sin
!
2
!
"
#
$
%
&


= 0 + j(1)

= j (6)

Well, now theie is no issue foi imaginaiy axis is always oithogonal to the ieal
axis. Bowevei, while a point keep iotating as a ciicle in a complex plane, then
the numbei of cycle being completeu foi a full ciicle in one seconu is uefineu as
fiequency in the unit of iauians pei seconu, ". So,

e
j!
= e
j"t
(7)

In auuition,

! = 2" f (8)

Bence,

e
j!t
= e
2" ft
(9)

Wheie the unit of " is in Bz. So now,

e
j!t
= cos(!t) + j sin(!t) (1u)

e
j 2! ft
= cos(2! ft) + j sin(2! ft) (11)

Fiom (1u) anu (11), we know that a complex sinusoiual signal will compiise of
two sinusoiual signals in same fiequency but with 9u of phase uiffeience.
Bowevei, in piactical, we noimally ueal with ieal numbei signal, insteau of
complex signal. Foi the case of #$%&"t', it can be expiesseu in exponential foim.

cos(!t) =
e
2
j!t
+
e
! j!t
2
(12)

Fiom (12), it shows a ieal numbei fiequency will compiise of a positive anu a
negative complex fiequencies, which is well known as even symmetiy of
magnituue spectium. If theie is a signal with centei fiequency at "( multiply with
#$%&)#f1t', then we can two signals with uiffeient centei fiequency, )"( anu u. So,
if we use a low pass filtei to iemove )"( fiom the piouuct signal, then we can get
a signal with centei fiequency at u Bz. In softwaie-uefineu iauio (SBR), such
appioach is useful foi analog to uigital conveitei (ABC) to sample high fiequency
signal. Now, how about %*+&"t'. Well, it can be expiesseu in exponential foim
too.

sin(!t) = j
e
! j!t
2
! j
e
j!t
2
(1S)

Fiom (1S), it shows foi any signal which multiply with %*+&"t', it will be tuineu
into imaginaiy axis (because it is multiplying with j). As similai to #$%&"t',
%*+&"t' also compiises of a positive anu a negative fiequencies. Bowevei, the
positive fiequency woulu have a negative magnituue spectium as oppose to
negative fiequency, which is well known as ouu symmetiy. When we multiply a
signal with %*+&"t' wheie the " is equal to the centei fiequency of the signal, we
can biing the signal to u Bz as centei fiequency. In auuitional, since theie is a ,
come togethei with %*+&"t', while multiplying the signal with %*+&"t', the
spectium of the signal with u Bz as centei fiequency is actually located at the
imaginary axis. As we know, the process of quadrature sampling is about to
transform a real number signal into a complex number signal. Thus, by multiplying a
real number signal with #$%&"t' anu %*+&"t' in inuiviuual, aftei being piocesseu
by low pass filtei, we get Re(t) anu Im(t), iespectively. The Re(t) anu Im(t) aie
sometimes uefineu as i(t) anu q(t), iespectively, wheie the i stanu foi in-phase
anu the q stanu foi quauiatuie. Besiues, both of them having half magnituue at
centei fiequency of u Bz (we assume the oiiginal centei fiequency of the signal
is iuentical to the "). Bowevei, Im(t) is at imaginaiy axis, which is oithogonal to
the ieal axis, so, we neeu to twist it 9u in clockwise by multiplying with -, to
make it aligneu to ieal axis. Whiles both of them with half magnituue aie
supeiposeu in ieal axis, they constiuct a full magnituue ieal numbei signal with
u Bz as centei fiequency. As a iesult, the complex numbei signal of a ieal
numbei signal .&/' can be expiesseu as .&/'#$%&"t' jx(t)%*+&"t'. Someone
might aigue the .&/' shoulu have its negative spectium as it is a ieal numbei
signal, anu we uiun't consiuei about the impact of positive spectium of #$%&"t'
anu %*+&"t' yet. Well, I leave that pait as youi own exeicise to show the signals
cancellation among them.