Multidimensional wave field signal theory: Mathematical foundations

Many important physical phenomena are described by wave or diffusion-wave type equations. Since these equations are linear, it would be useful to be able to use tools from the theory of linear signals and systems in solving related forward or inverse problems. In particular, the transform domain signal description from linear system theory has shown concrete promise for the solution of problems that are governed by a multidimensional wave field. The aim is to develop a unified framework for the description of wavefields via multidimensional signals. However, certain preliminary mathematical results are crucial for the development of this framework. This first paper on this topic thus introduces the mathematical foundations and proves some important mathematical results. The foundation of the framework starts with the inhomogeneous Helmholtz or pseudo-Helmholtz equation, which is the mathematical basis of a large class of wavefields. Application of the appropriate multi-dimensional Fourier transform leads to a transfer function description. To return to the physical spatial domain, certain mathematical results are necessary and these are presented and proved here as six fundamental theorems. These theorems are crucial for the evaluation of a certain class of improper integrals which arise in the evaluation of inverse multi-dimensional Fourier and Hankel transforms, upon which the framework is based. Subsequently, applications of these theorems are demonstrated, in particular for the derivation of Green's functions in different coordinate systems. Copyright 2011 Author(s). This article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. [doi:10.1063/1.3596359]