Fourier Transform of a Unit Step Function

The unit step function is

1 if u 0


u(t) =
0 if u < 0

and the signum function is

1 if u 0


sgn(t) =
1 if u < 0.

These two functions are related by the equation

1 + sgn(t)
u(t) = .
2
2
Theorem 0.1. The Fourier transform of sgn(t) is F() = j
.
Proof. Note that (with a > 0):

sgn(t) = lim eat u(t) eat u(t) .

a0

Thus,

F sgn(t) = lim F eat u(t) F eat u(t)

a0
Z Z 0 !
at jt at jt
= lim e e dt e e dt
a0 0
1 1  0 !
= lim e(a+ j)t 
e(a j)t 
a0 a + j a j 0

!
1 1
= lim (0 1) (1 0)
a0 a + j a j
!
1 1
= lim
a0 a + j a j
2 j
= lim 2
a0 a + 2
2
=
j

1
Theorem 0.2. The Fourier transform of u(t) is F() = j
+ ().
Proof. The theorem above shows that
2
sgn(t) .
j

1
We also know that
1 2().
Thus,
!
1

F (u(t)) = F 1 + sgn(t)
2
1 1

= F (1) + F sgn(t)
2 2 !
1 1 2
= (()) +
2 2 j
1
= () +
j