An Algebraic Approach to Fourier Transformation

Abstract

The notion of Fourier transformation is described from an algebraic perspective that lends itself to applications in Symbolic Computation. We build the algebraic structures on the basis of a given Heisenberg group (in the general sense of nilquadratic groups enjoying a splitting property); this includes in particular the whole gamut of Pontryagin duality. The free objects in the corresponding categories are determined, and various examples are given. As a first step towards Symbolic Computation, we study two constructive examples in some detail -- the Gaussians (with and without polynomial factors) and the hyperbolic secant algebra.