math::fourier(3tcl)

NAME
math::fourier - Discrete and fast fourier transforms

SYNOPSIS
package require Tcl 8.4

package require math::fourier 1.0.2

::math::fourier::dft in_data

::math::fourier::inverse_dft in_data

::math::fourier::lowpass cutoff in_data

::math::fourier::highpass cutoff in_data

DESCRIPTION

The math::fourier package implements two versions of discrete Fourier transforms, the ordinary transform and the fast Fourier transform. It also provides a few simple filter procedures as an illustrations of how such filters can be implemented.

The purpose of this document is to describe the implemented procedures and provide some examples of their usage. As there is ample literature on the algorithms involved, we refer to relevant text books for more explanations. We also refer to the original Wiki page on the subject which describes some of the considerations behind the current implementation.

GENERAL INFORMATION
The two top-level procedures defined are

•   dft data-list

•   inverse_dft data-list

Both take a list of complex numbers and apply a Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) or its inverse respectively to these lists of numbers. A "complex number" in this case is either (i) a pair (two element list) of numbers, interpreted as the real and imaginary parts of the complex number, or (ii) a single number, interpreted as the real part of a complex number whose imaginary part is zero. The return value is always in the first format. (The DFT generally produces complex results even if the input is purely real.) Applying first one and then the other of these procedures to a list of complex numbers will (modulo rounding errors due to floating point arithmetic) return the original list of numbers.

If the input length N is a power of two then these procedures will utilize the O(N log N) Fast Fourier Transform algorithm. If input length is not a power of two then the DFT will instead be computed using a the naive quadratic algorithm.

Some examples:

        % dft {1 2 3 4}
        {10 0.0} {-2.0 2.0} {-2 0.0} {-2.0 -2.0}
        % inverse_dft {{10 0.0} {-2.0 2.0} {-2 0.0} {-2.0 -2.0}}
        {1.0 0.0} {2.0 0.0} {3.0 0.0} {4.0 0.0}
        % dft {1 2 3 4 5}
        {15.0 0.0} {-2.5 3.44095480118} {-2.5 0.812299240582} {-2.5 -0.812299240582} {-2.5 -3.44095480118}
        % inverse_dft {{15.0 0.0} {-2.5 3.44095480118} {-2.5 0.812299240582} {-2.5 -0.812299240582} {-2.5 -3.44095480118}}
        {1.0 0.0} {2.0 8.881784197e-17} {3.0 4.4408920985e-17} {4.0 4.4408920985e-17} {5.0 -8.881784197e-17}

In the last case, the imaginary parts <1e-16 would have been zero in exact arithmetic, but aren't here due to rounding errors.

Internally, the procedures use a flat list format where every even index element of a list is a real part and every odd index element is an imaginary part. This is reflected in the variable names by Re_ and Im_ prefixes.

The package includes two simple filters. They have an analogue equivalent in a simple electronic circuit, a resistor and a capacitance in series. Using these filters requires the math::complexnumbers package.

PROCEDURES
The public Fourier transform procedures are:

::math::fourier::dft in_data
    Determine the Fourier transform of the given list of complex numbers. The result is a list of complex numbers representing the (complex) amplitudes of the Fourier components.

    list in_data
        List of data

::math::fourier::inverse_dft in_data
    Determine the inverse Fourier transform of the given list of complex numbers (interpreted as amplitudes). The result is a list of complex numbers representing the original (complex) data

    list in_data
        List of data (amplitudes)

::math::fourier::lowpass cutoff in_data
    Filter the (complex) amplitudes so that high-frequency components are suppressed. The implemented filter is a first-order low-pass filter, the discrete equivalent of a simple electronic circuit with a resistor and a capacitance.

    float cutoff
        Cut-off frequency

    list in_data
        List of data (amplitudes)

::math::fourier::highpass cutoff in_data
    Filter the (complex) amplitudes so that low-frequency components are suppressed. The implemented filter is a first-order low-pass filter, the discrete equivalent of a simple electronic circuit with a resistor and a capacitance.

    float cutoff
        Cut-off frequency

    list in_data
        List of data (amplitudes)

BUGS, IDEAS, FEEDBACK
This document, and the package it describes, will undoubtedly contain bugs and other problems. Please report such in the category math :: fourier of the Tcllib Trackers [http://core.tcl.tk/tcllib/reportlist]. Please also report any ideas for enhancements you may have for either package and/or documentation.

KEYWORDS
FFT, Fourier transform, complex numbers, mathematics

CATEGORY
Mathematics