Chapter 5
The Laplace Transform
:Introduction :5.1
The Laplace transform is a widely used
integral transform in mathematics with
many applications
in physics and engineering. It is a linear
operator of a function f (t) with a real
argument t (t ≥ 0) that transforms f (t) to
a function F (s) with complex argument s,
given by the integral:
F ( s ) f ( t ).e .dt
st
0
Introduction
The most-common pairs of f (t) and F (s) are
often given in tables for easy reference. The
Laplace transform has the useful property that
many relationships and operations over the
original f (t) correspond to simpler relationships
and operations over its image F (s).
The Laplace transform is related to the Fourier
Transform, but whereas the Fourier transform
expresses a function or signal as a series of
modes of vibration (frequencies), the Laplace
transform resolves a function into its moments.
:Introduction
Like the Fourier transform, the Laplace transform
is used for solving differential, integral equations
and initial value problems. In physics and
engineering it is used for analysis of linear time-
invariant systems such as Electrical
circuits, harmonics oscillators, and mechanical
systems.
In such analyses, the Laplace transform is often
interpreted as a transformation from the time-
domain, in which inputs and outputs are functions
of time, to the frequency-domain, where the
same inputs and outputs are functions of complex
angular frequency, in radians per unit time.
Introduction
Given a simple mathematical or functional
description of an input or output to a
system, the Laplace transform provides an
alternative functional description that often
simplifies the process of analyzing the
behavior of the system, or in synthesizing a
new system based on a set of
specifications.
The Laplace Transform:5.2
:(L.T)
The Laplace Transforms Notations are:
F( s )
{ f ( t )}
And it is given by:
F ( s ) f ( t ).e st .dt
Its called the BILATERAL Laplace Transform,
Results a function of s variable.
The Laplace Transform
:(L.T)
Where s is a complex variable:
s j
is the real part
& is the imaginary part
The Inverse Laplace Transform
(I.L.T):
The Inverse Laplace transform has the
1
notation f ( t ) [ F ( s )] .
And its given by:
j
1
st
f (t ) X ( s ).e .ds
2j j
Usually we use the partial fraction
technique to find the Inverse L.T as the L.T
function always in the form:
N( s )
F( s )
D( s )
:Example 1
The L.T of the signal:
at
x( t ) e .u( t )
is:
1
X( s )
sa
:Region of Convergence (ROC)
Whether the Laplace transform X(s) of a
signal x(t) exists or not depends on the
complex variable s as well as the signal itself.
All complex values of s for which the integral
in the definition converges form a region of
convergence (ROC) in the s-plane. X(s)
exists if and only if the argument s is inside
the ROC. As the imaginary part
Im[ s ] of
the complex variable
s j has no
effect in terms of the convergence, the ROC
is determined solely by the real part
Re[ s ]
.
Region of Convergence
(ROC):
The ROC can also provide us with
information about whether x(t) is Fourier
transformable or not. Since the Fourier
Transform is obtained from the Bilateral
Laplace transform by setting σ=0, the ROC in
this case is a single line (the jω axis).
Therefore, if the ROC for X(s) includes the
jω axis. x(t) is Fourier Transformable, and
X(ω) can be obtained by replacing s in X(s)
by jω.
:Region of Convergence (ROC)
For the signal in “Example 1” has a L.T only
if a
So, we say that the ROC of x(t) in Example
1, is defined by
Re{ s } a
ROC
Im{ s }
s Plane
a Re{ s }
:Example 2
The L.T for
at
x( t ) e .u( t )
is also:
1
X( s )
sa
And the ROC is defined for
Re{ s } a
:Example 3
The L.T for:
2t t
x( t ) 3.e .u( t ) 4.e .u( t )
Is:
3 4
X( s )
s2 s 1
And the ROC is:
2 Re{ s } 1
