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$f(x)$ is a 1D smooth function which real, even, compactly supported in the interval $[-a,a]$, and strictly positive within that interval.

Its Fourier transform is,

$$ \hat{f}(s) = \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(x) \exp(-2 \pi i x s) dx $$

Are the local minima of $|\hat{f}(s)|$ all zeros?

This is a follow up question to a previous question.

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  • $\begingroup$ Are you considering $\hat{f}$ as an entire holomorphic function, or just as a function $\mathbb{R} \to \mathbb{C}$? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2018 at 10:53
  • $\begingroup$ Actually just as a $\mathbb{R} \rightarrow \mathbb{R}$ function given that the input is even. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 17, 2018 at 14:54

2 Answers 2

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It is not so easy to write down a function that satisfies your requirements and has an explicit formula for its Fourier transform. Luckily, an explicit form is not necessary:

Let $f$ be any function which is as specified in the question. Assume w.l.o.g. $\hat f(0) = 1$ and $0$ a global maximum of $|\hat f|$. Otherwise we can modulate and rescale $f$ to end up in this situation. Consider the function $g_a(x) := f(x) - f(x/a)/(2a)$. Note that $f, g_a$ are continuous and $\hat g_a= \hat f - \hat f(a x)/ 2$. Claim: $|\hat g_a|$ has a local minimum in a neighborhood of $0$ for some $a > 0$. Since $0$ is a global maximum of $|\hat f|$, there is a neighborhood $U$ of $0$ such that $|\hat g_a|>1/4$ for all $a>0$ and $|\hat f|>3/4$.

We clearly have that $|\hat g_a(0)| = 1/2$ for all $a>0$. Moreover, for $a \to \infty$ we see that $\hat g_a$ converges pointwise to $\hat f$ on $\mathbb R\setminus \{0\}$ and to $1/2$ on $\{0\}$. Thus, for sufficiently large $a$ we see that there are two points $x_1< 0 < x_2$ in $U$ such that $|\hat g_a(x_i)|>1/2 = |\hat g_a(0)|$ for $i = 1,2$. Thus $|\hat g_a|$ has a local minimum between $x_1$ and $x_2$ which is not a root of $\hat g_a$.

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  • $\begingroup$ The problem is that $g_a$ is no longer compactly supported in the interval $[−a,a]$. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 17:07
  • $\begingroup$ I guess if one considers only $a < 1$ the first part works, but the argument starting with "for sufficiently large $a$" does not hold. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 17:13
  • $\begingroup$ g_a is compactly supported by construction. It is not strictly positive on the full support though. I understood your question in the sense that the function should be strictly positive somewhere within the interval and not on the whole interval as the latter is impossible, since a function cannot be positive on all of its support. I suppose you meant strictly positive on (-a,a) then?. $\endgroup$
    – pcp
    Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 18:33
  • $\begingroup$ But $g_a$ with $a > 1$ will spill outside the interval. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 20:12
  • $\begingroup$ Yes, but as I've said, it has compact support. You can rescale the function to be supported in any interval you like, without changing the fact that the modulus of its fourier transform has a local minimum that is not a root. $\endgroup$
    – pcp
    Commented Jun 30, 2018 at 20:44
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Here's an example of a function whose Fourier transform has a local minima which is not a zero:

$$ f(x) = \begin{cases} 3(1 + \cos \pi x) + (1 + \cos 4 \pi x)& |x| \le 0.25, \\ 3(1 + \cos \pi x) & 0.25 < |x| < 1, \\ 0 & \text{otherwise} \end{cases} $$

Here's a plot of the function:

Plot of the function $f$

and of the absolute value of its Fourier transform:

Plot of the Fourier transform of $f$

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