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Fourier Transform of Signum Function

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Fourier Transform
The Fourier transform of a continuous-time function x(t) can be defined as,

∞
−jωt
X(ω) = ∫ x(t)e dt
−∞

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Fourier Transform of Signum Function

sgn(t) = { 1 f or t > 0\-1 f or t < 0

As the signum function is not absolutely integrable. Hence, its Fourier transform cannot
be found directly. Therefore, to find the Fourier transform of the signum function,
consider the function as given below.

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−a|t|
x(t) = e sgn(t); a → 0

Therefore, the signum function can be obtained as,

−a|t|
x(t) = sgn(t) = lim e sgn(t)
a→ 0

−at at
⇒ x(t) = lim [e u(t) − e u(−t)]
a→ 0

From the definition of the Fourier transform, we have,

∞ ∞
−jωt −jωt
X(ω) = ∫ x(t)e dt = ∫ sgn(t)e dt
−∞ −∞

∞
−at at −jωt
⇒ X(ω) = ∫ ( lim [e u(t) − e u(−t)]) e dt
a→ 0
−∞

∞ ∞
−at −jωt at −jωt
⇒ X(ω) = lim [∫ e e u(t)dt − ∫ e e u(−t)dt]
a→ 0
−∞ −∞

∞ 0
−(a+jω)t (a−jω)t
⇒ X(ω) = lim [∫ e dt − ∫ e dt]
a→ 0
0 −∞

∞ ∞
−(a+jω)t −(a−jω)t
⇒ X(ω) = lim [∫ e dt − ∫ e dt]
a→ 0
0 0

∞ ∞
−(a+jω)t −(a−jω)t
e e
⇒ X(ω) = lim {[ ] − [ ] }
a→ 0 −(a + jω) −(a − jω)
0 0

−∞ 0 −∞ 0
e − e e − e
⇒ X(ω) = lim {[ ] − [ ]}
a→ 0 −(a + jω) −(a − jω)

1 1
= lim [ − ]
a→ 0 (a + jω) (a − jω)

On solving the limits, we get,

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1 1 2
⇒ X(ω) = − =
jω (−jω) jω

Therefore, the Fourier transform of the signum function is,

2
X(ω) = F[sgn(t)] =
jω

Or, it can also be represented as,

FT 2
sgn(t) ↔
jω

The magnitude and phase representation of Fourier transform of the Signum

−−−−−−−−−
2
2 2
Magnitude, |X(ω)| = √0 + ( ) = ; f or all ω
ω ω

π π
Phase, ∠ X(ω) = { ; f or ω < 0 − ; f or ω > 0
2 2

The graphical representation of the signum function with its magnitude and phase
spectra is shown in the figure below.

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