Mastering the discrete Fourier transform in one, two or several dimensions. Pitfalls and artifacts (Q1950248)

The discrete Fourier transform (DFT) with its fast algorithm is a powerful tool in applied mathematics, science, and engineering. The aim of this textbook is to explain the various artifacts and pitfalls of the DFT. The author shows how to avoid these artifacts (whenever possible) and how to recognize them in order to avoid misinterpretations of DFT results. A pictorial, intuitive approach is preferred over a strong mathematical style. This book is mainly written for people with a basic knowledge of DFT, but are not sufficiently familiar with practical limitations and artifacts of DFT. For a mathematical treatment of the DFT and its relationship to the continuous Fourier transform (CFT) see, e.g. [\textit{W. L. Briggs} and \textit{V. E. Henson}, The DFT. An owner's manual for the discrete Fourier transform. Philadelphia, PA: SIAM, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematik (1995; Zbl 0827.65147)]. The book under review is divided into 8 chapters. The Chapters 1--2 have introductory character with historical remarks, overview of the book, and basic rules of DFT and CFT (without proofs). In each chapter, the author discusses first the one-dimensional DFT and then proceeds to the two- and multidimensional DFT. The Chapters 3--4 deal with data reorganisation for the DFT and interpretation of DFT results in terms of true units along the axes. The Chapters 5--6 are devoted to the main sources of discrepancy between the DFT results and the CFT, namely aliasing and leakage. Error estimates of DFT and CFT are not handled. In Chapter 7, the author discusses the choice of optimal parameters that are related to the resolution and the range of the data. Chapter 8 presents some further pitfalls (such as the representation of discontinuities, polar representation of a complex-valued spectrum, symmetry properties of DFT, reconstruction of sampled signals). Chapters 2--8 finish with some exercises. The book closes with some appendices (with heuristic concept of impulse, data extensions, and glossary). The textbook is written in a very informal style and contains numerous examples, figures, and tables. Without any doubt, this book will be a valuable source of information for a wide range of DFT users.