[Tex/LaTex] How to write a convolution and a Fourier transform

math-modesymbols

I want to write the following equation in LaTeX:

\begin{equation}
x(t) \ast h(t) = y(t) 

X(f) H(f) = Y(f) 
\end{equation}

I want \ast to denote the convolution. I know there is also the \star command. Does it matter which one I use to represent convolution? Then I want a Fourier-transform symbol, I mean the line with a coloured and an empty circle on either side, to connect the x(t) and X(f), h(t) and H(f), y(t) and Y(f) respectively. Is there a way of doing this ?

Best Answer

The \circledast symbol from amssymb package is usually used to denote the circular convolution process.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amssymb}
\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
x(t) \circledast h(t) &= y(t) \\
X(f) H(f) &= Y(f) 
\end{align*}

\end{document}

enter image description here

For linear convolution, a simple * is more appropriate:

\begin{align*}
x(t)*h(t) &= y(t) \\
X(f) H(f) &= Y(f) 
\end{align*}

enter image description here

To draw connections between parts of the equations, TikZ package can be used with its tikzmark library to mark locations to begin and end your lines.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath,amssymb,tikz}
\usetikzlibrary{arrows.meta,tikzmark}
\begin{document}

\begin{align*}
x\tikzmark{x}(t)*h\tikzmark{h}(t) &= y\tikzmark{y}(t) \\[2em]
X(f) \, H(f) &= Y(f) 
\end{align*}

\begin{tikzpicture}[overlay,remember picture, > = {Circle[open,blue]}]
  \draw [<->] ([yshift=-.7ex]pic cs:x) -- ++(0,-2.2em);
  \draw [<->] ([yshift=-.7ex]pic cs:h) -- ++(0,-2.2em);
  \draw [<->] ([yshift=-.7ex]pic cs:y) -- ++(0,-2.2em);
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

enter image description here