4.

Periodic signals: Complex valued sinusoids

Nurgun Erdol
13Jan09
Review: Complex numers
A complex number x is a special combination of a pair of real numbers r and m as

x r jm = +
In rectangular coordinates. An alternate way of expressing x is in polar coordinates as
x x =
where the magnitude
2 2
x r m = + and the phase ( )
1
tan / m r

=
. The example in Figure 1
shows the complex number 4!" in the complex plane with its real and imaginary parts of 4 and
"# respecti$ely. The complex number 4!" is at a distance
2 2
4 " % x = + = from the origin and
at an angle ( )
1
tan "/ 4

=
.
Figure 1. The complex plane showing the location and components of complex number 4!".
The complex number in can be written in another polar coordinate form as
j
x x e

=
.
&o for the example
4 " x j = +
# we can write
( )
1
tan "/ 4
%
j
x e

=
. To see that it con$eys the same
information as and # we write ( ) cos' ( sin
j
e j

= +
and note that ( ) cos 4 / % =
# ( ) sin "/ % =
and
( )
( ) ( )
1
tan "/ 4
% %'cos sin ( %'4 / % "/ %( 4 "
j
e j j j

= + = + = + .
)*uations and are e*ui$alent for complex $alued functions as well. &ome examples are gi$en
below+
1. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
cos 2 sin 2 # 1# 2
j t
x t e t j t x t x t t

= = + = = . ,ou can map this on the

complex plane# such as the one in Figure 1. ,ou should consider its $alues for different
$alues of t. &elect points on ( ) for - .#1# 2# "#..#12#1"#../ / 12 x t t = K
$alues are shown in
Figure 2. 0ote that since the period is 1# . and 1 t = map to the same point at . degrees#
as do the $alues for
4
4 / 12 and 1
12
t = at 12. degrees.
1
tt
4!"
4
!"
real
imaginary
%

1et ( ) ( ) { } ( ) cos 2
r
x t real x t t = =
and ( ) ( ) { } ( ) sin 2
i
x t imaginary x t t = =
. )ach one is
plotted $ersus t in Figure " and the points corresponding to those in Figure 2 are mar2ed
with 3.
2. ( )
( )
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2 /"
cos 2 2 / " sin 2 2 / " # 1# 2 2 / "
j t
x t e t j t x t x t t


+
= = + + + = = + .
4apping this on the complex plane for
- .#1# 2# "#..#12#1"#../ / 12 t = K
results in Figure 4.
0ote that since there is a phase shift of 2 / " radians or 12. degrees. 0ote also that the
magnitude is still 1 so all the points lie on a circle of radius 1.
( ) ( ) { } ( ) cos 2 2 / "
r
x t real x t t = = +
and ( ) ( ) { } ( ) sin 2 2 / "
i
x t imaginary x t t = = +

are plotted $ersus t in Figure % and the points corresponding to those in Figure 4 are
mar2ed with 3.
". ( ) ( ) ( ) cos 2 sin 2 " x t t j t = + . 0ote that the magnitude of this function is not 1. Why?
Its polar plot in the complex plane for . 1 t is gi$en in Figure 5 and the plots# $ersus#
time of the real part ( ) cos 2 t
and imaginary part ( ) sin 2 "t
# the magnitude and phase of
( ) x t
are shown in Figure 6. 7ompare the results as they all relate to the same signal.
8ecall that a real $alued periodic function satisfies the property
' ( ' ( f t f t T = +
for all $alues of
t
. A complex $alued periodic function satisfies the same condition which means its real part
must be periodic and its imaginary part must be periodic also.
Exercise:
1. Find the periods of the complex valued functions given above as examples. Validate
your results against the given plots associated with the functions.
2. Write M!"# programs to duplicate the graphs of Figure $%Figure &.
2
Figure 2.
2 j t
e

for $alues of
.#1/ 12# 2 / 12#... t =
. 0ote the same points are co$ered after one
cycle is complete.
Figure ". 9lot $ersus time of the real and imaginary parts of
( ) 2 j t
e

o$erlaid with points
corresponding to those shown on the complex plane of Figure 2.
"
Figure 4.
'2 2 /"( j t
e
+
for $alues of
.#1/ 12# 2 / 12#... t =
. 0ote the ad$anced starting point at 2 / "
radians or 12. degrees.
Figure %. 9lot of the real and imaginary parts of
( ) 2 2 /" j t
e
+
$ersus time o$erlaid with points
corresponding to those shown on the complex plane of Figure 4.
4
Figure 5 Trac2 ta2en by the complex signal ( ) ( ) ( ) cos 2 sin 2 " x t t j t = +
for . 1 t .
Figure 6. 9lots of the real and imaginary parts 'left column( and magnitude and phase 'right
column( of the two fre*uency sinusoid ( ) ( ) ( ) cos 2 sin 2 " x t t j t = +
.
%