Discrete fractional Fourier transform based on orthogonal projections

The continuous fractional Fourier transform (FRFT) performs a spectrum rotation of signal in the time-frequency plane, and it becomes an important tool for time-varying signal analysis. A discrete fractional Fourier transform has been developed by Santhanam and McClellan (see ibid., vol.42, p.994-98, 1996) but its results do not match those of the corresponding continuous fractional Fourier transforms. We propose a new discrete fractional Fourier transform (DFRFT). The new DFRFT has DFT Hermite eigenvectors and retains the eigenvalue-eigenfunction relation as a continous FRFT. To obtain DFT Hermite eigenvectors, two orthogonal projection methods are introduced. Thus, the new DFRFT will provide similar transform and rotational properties as those of continuous fractional Fourier transforms. Moreover, the relationship between FRFT and the proposed DFRFT has been established in the same way as the conventional DFT-to-continuous-Fourier transform.