Fourier Transform of a Gaussian

By a Gaussian signal, we mean one of the form eCt for some constant C. We will show
that the Fourier transform of a Guassian is also a Gaussian. Three different proofs are given, for
variety. The first uses complex analysis, the second uses integration by parts, and the third uses
Taylor series.

2
2
Theorem 0.1. The Fourier transform of f (t) = eCt is F() = e /4C /C.
First a lemma that will be used in the first two proofs. Its proof uses a trick - the desired integral
is squared and then converted into a double integral for which polar coordinates work well.
R

2
Lemma 0.2. ex dx = .

Proof.

Let I =
2

I =
=

ex dx
x2

! Z
dx

y2

2 +y2 )

e(x

!
dy

dxdy

(now let x = r cos , y = r sin , dxdy = rdrd)

Z 2 Z
2
=
er rdrd
0
Z 0
2
= 2
er rdr
0

r 2 
= e 
0

I=

The first proof makes use of Lemma 0.3 below, which is based on complex analysis. You would
normally learn this material, for example, at UCSD in Math 120A. If you havent learned this yet,
you can skip to the other two proofs. Specifically, Cauchys theorem says that the contour integral
of a complex function around some closed path is 2 times the sum of the residues of the function.
If the function is analytic, then there are no residues and the contour integral is zero. We use a path
which is a rectangle and then let its width become infinite in both directions.
R

2
Lemma 0.3. If b > 0, then e(xb j) dx = .
2

Proof. The function ez is analytic in the complex plane, so its integral around the rectangle shown
below is zero by Cauchys theorem.

Im

a
a b j

Re

a bj

That is,
0=

ez dz
a

(xb j)2

dx +

(a+y j)2

dy +
a
b
 a
Z a
Z 0
Z a
 Z 0


2
2
2
2

e(xb j) dx
ex dx = 
e(a+y j) dy
e(a+y j) dy
 b

a
a
b
Z 0
Z
0
 (a+y j)2 
 (a+y j)2 

 dy +
 dy
e
e
b
b
Z 0
2
a2
ey dy
= 2e

x2

dx +

e(a+y j) dy

b
a2 b2

2e e 0 as a
Z
2
(xb j)2

e
dx =
ex dx

= by Lemma 0.2
Z

Proof #1 of Theorem 0.1.

F() =
=

eCt e jt dt
eC(t

2 +( j/C))

dt
2

eC(t+( j/2C)) /4C dt

Z
2
2 /4C
eC(t( j/2C)) dt
=e




now let = t C, d = Cdt

Z
2
e /4C (( j/2 C))2
e
d
=
C

p
2
= e /4C /C by Lemma 0.3
=

The second proof uses integration by parts on the Fourier transform. This results in a first order
seperable differential equation, which can easily be solved by integration and then determination
of the constant of integration. Such differential equations are standard material in a high school
Calculus BC course or at UCSD in Math 20D, and probably also earlier such as in Math 20ABC.
Proof #2 of Theorem 0.1.
F() =
F () =

eCt e jt dt
2

jteCt e jt dt

Now integrate by parts using:

u = je jt
2

v = eCt /(2C)

du = e jt dt
2

dv = teCt dt
 Z
2

jt Ct2 
F () = ( j/2C)e e 
(/2C)eCt e jt dt

|
{z
}
0

= (/2C)F()

F ()
= /2C.
F()

Now integrate both sides with respect to to get

ln(F()) = 2 /4C + K
F() = e

2 /4C

eK .

Also, we have
F(0) = eK
Z
2
=
eCt dt
(Plug = 0 into Fourier Transform definition)

2
=
ex (dx/ C) (Substitute x = t C)
p
= /C
(by Lemma 0.2).

In the thrid proof, we first expand the complex exponential into its real and imaginary parts
2
inside the integal. Then, since sin(t) is an odd function and eCt is an even function, their
product is odd, so integrating the product on the whole real line gives zero. The Fourier transform
2
then is the real integral of eCt times cos(t). We expand the cosine in its Taylor series about
the origin and then integrate the product term by term (i.e. switching the order of summation and
integration). Then we add up the result.
Proof #3 of Theorem 0.1.
Let g(C) =

eCt dt =

/C

(by Lemma 0.2) f g

(1/2)C 3/2

g (C) = (1/2)(3/2)C 5/2

g (C) = (1/2)(3/2)(5/2)C 7/2

..
.
(1)k (1 3 5 . . . (2k 1)) (2k+1)/2
C
g(k) (C) =
2k

(1)k C (2k+1)/2 (2k 1)!!

=
2k
Z
g (C) =

= (1)

t2k eCt dt

F() =
=

eCt e jt dt
Ct2

cos(t)dt + j

eCt sin(t))dt
|
{z
}
0

=
=

Ct2

cos(t)dt

Ct2

X
(1)n/2 (t)n

e
e

n!

even

X
n
n=0
even

dt

even

X
(1)n/2 n
n=0

n!

n=0

n!

eCt tn dt

g(n/2) (C)

(n+1)/2
C
(1)n/2 (n 1)!!

n!
2n/2

X
n
n=0
even

X
p
(n 1)!!
/C
(2 /2C)n/2
n!
n=0
even

p
/C

X
(2 /2C)n/2
n=0

2n/2 (n/2)!

even

X
p
(2 /4C)k
/C
k!
k=0
p
2
= /C e /4C