What is the Laplace Transform of the Sinc Function?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the Laplace transform of the sinc function, with participants exploring its relationship to trigonometric functions, particularly the inverse tangent and cotangent functions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants examine the Laplace transform of the sinc function and propose connections to known transforms of trigonometric functions. Questions arise regarding integration techniques and the implications of constants of integration in definite integrals.

Discussion Status

The discussion is active, with participants providing insights and corrections to each other's reasoning. There is an ongoing exploration of the relationships between the functions involved, with some participants suggesting alternative interpretations and clarifications regarding integration limits.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential missing information regarding constants of integration and the specific limits of integration used in the Laplace transform calculations. Participants are also navigating the nuances of definite versus indefinite integrals in this context.

Char. Limit
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Just out of curiosity, I've been looking into the Laplace transform and noticed that...

[tex]\mathcal{L}(sin(t))=\frac{1}{s^2+1}=\frac{d}{ds}(tan^{-1}(s))[/tex]

So, I was wondering if the Laplace transform of the sinc function was the inverse tangent function. In LaTEX...

[tex]\mathcal{L}(sinc(t))=tan^{-1}(s)[/tex]

In short, is the above a true statement?
 
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Close, I think you get [itex]\cot^{-1}(s)=\frac{\pi}{2}-\tan^{-1}(s)[/itex] when you do the integration properly.

[tex]\mathcal{L}\left[\frac{f(t)}{t}\right]=\int_s^\infty F(\sigma)d\sigma[/tex]
 
You're missing a minus sign and the constant of integration. To get the correct result you will have to find that constant.
 
Wait, constant of integration? I thought that in a definite integral, the constant of integration would cancel out...

And yeah, I see that I got something wrong there gabba. I integrated from 0 to s, instead of from s to infinity. Doing it again, you're right. Here's the true statement, I guess:

[tex]\mathcal{L}(sinc(t))=cot^{-1}(s)[/tex]

I love it when I put in a trig function and get out a trig function.
 
Char.Limit said:
Wait, constant of integration? I thought that in a definite integral, the constant of integration would cancel out...

Yes I was under the impression you did something else than using the identity in post #2 namely.

I thought you had noticed that if

[tex] f(s)=\int_0^\infty \frac{\sin (t)}{t} e^{-s t} ds[/tex]

then

[tex] f'(s)=-\int_0^\infty \sin( t )e^{-s t} ds = - \frac{d}{ds} \arctan s[/tex]

from this it follows that

[tex] f(s)=-\arctan s+c[/tex]

but [itex]f(\infty)= 0[/itex] therefore [itex]c=\pi/2[/itex] and finally [itex]f(s)=\pi/2-\arctan s=\text{arccot} s[/itex]

Edit: Whoops this post was a bit premature. I thought you finished in post #4, but seeing as you finished while I was fixing my tex I won't edit this post.
 
Last edited:
And then lastly, [tex]F(s)=\frac{\pi}{2} - tan^{-1}(s)=cot^{-1}(s)[/tex], right?
 

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