A Student's Guide to Fourier Transforms: With Applications in Physics and Engineering [Paperback]

J. F. James (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 10, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0521004284 | ISBN-13: 978-0521004282 | Edition: 2

This new edition of a successful textbook for undergraduate students in physics, computer science and electrical engineering describes important contemporary ideas in practical science and information technology at an understandable level, illustrated with worked examples and copious diagrams. The field is covered broadly rather than in depth, and includes references to more extended works on various topics. This new edition is slightly expanded, and includes additional new material in the applications sections.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I highly recommend this book for the advanced student...it will serve as a valuable supplement to many classes. Even the expert who wants a deeper appreciation of the Fourier transform will find the book useful...You will find it a valuable asset for your library." Computers in Physics

Book Description

This is a new edition of a successful textbook for undergraduate students in physics, computer science and electrical engineering, and describes important ideas in practical science and information technology at an understandable level, illustrated with worked examples and copious diagrams. The field is covered broadly rather than in depth, and includes references to more extended works on various topics. This new edition is slightly expanded, and includes additional material in the applications sections.

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (February 10, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521004284
• ISBN-13: 978-0521004282
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,017,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A five-star book, March 29, 2002

By 

Jeremy Tame (Yokohama, Kanagawa Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Student's Guide to Fourier Transforms: With Applications in Physics and Engineering (Paperback)

I was appalled at the poor reviews this book has received. It
has been a tremendous help to me as a student and now lecturer
teaching this material at post-graduate level. It is exactly
what the title says - a student guide. It gives a very clear
introduction to the Fourier transform using abundant graphical
examples. Multi-dimensional transforms also get a brief
mention, and the book ends with a simple FFT routine written in
BASIC. Any interested student like myself will find this fun

to play with. Compared with other more expensive, weightier
books apparently written to make the subject as obscure as
possible, James's book is a delightful concise 128 page read. The
reader should gain an intuitive feel for many of the important
properties of the FT which will help greatly before tackling
more in-depth treatments. I think it is much better value for
money than many maths books on offer. Those wishing for the
most complicated explanation of Fourier transforms possible,
with no diagrams, applications or humour could try the book
by G.H.Hardy instead.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Assumes too much from the readers, November 5, 2000

By 

Francisco Coutinho (Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Student's Guide to Fourier Transforms: With Applications in Physics and Engineering (Paperback)

This book consists in brief review of the fourier transform and a few applications.The brief review in the first two chapters is ok Only the essentials are given and the proofs are omitted.The problem starsts with the applications. There are applications to difraction of light to information theory and so on. However too much is assumed from the students with respect to those applications .After reading the chapters the students , i suspect, will ask what they have learned.A little more material explaining what the applications are about would improve the book a lot.It is almost useless in the present form

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Borrow from library, July 9, 2010

By 

JAT - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Student's Guide to Fourier Transforms: With Applications in Physics and Engineering (Paperback)

This book is fine if you are just brushing up on fourier analysis, but it is not a good book to learn fourier analysis from scratch. There are very few proofs, and you have to read between the lines much more than should be necessary in an introductory (basic) book. There are a few places where the explanations are just terrible (e.g. sampling theorem, some of the applications, etc.). Borrow this book from the library, but don't spend money on it is my advice.