Laplace Transform • Applications of the Laplace transform – solve differential equations (both ordinary and partial) – application to RLC circuit analysis • Laplace transform converts differential equations in the time domain to algebraic equations in the frequency domain, thus 3 important processes: (1) transformation from the time to frequency domain (2) manipulate the algebraic equations to form a solution (3) inverse transformation from the frequency to time domain
Definition of Laplace Transform • Definition of the unilateral (one-sided) Laplace transform where s= +j is the complex frequency, and f(t)=0 for t<0 • The inverse Laplace transform requires a course in complex variables analysis (e. g. , MAT 461)
Singularity Functions • Singularity functions are either not finite or don't have finite derivatives everywhere • The two singularity functions of interest here are (1) unit step function, u(t) (2) delta or unit impulse function, (t)
Unit Step Function, u(t) • The unit step function, u(t) – Mathematical definition – Graphical illustration u(t) 1 0 t
Extensions of the Unit Step Function • A more general unit step function is u(t-a) 1 0 t a • The gate function can be constructed from u(t) – a rectangular pulse that starts at t= and ends at t= +T – like an on/off switch 1 u(t- ) - u(t- -T) 0 +T t
Delta or Unit Impulse Function, (t) • The delta or unit impulse function, (t) – Mathematical definition (non-pure version) – Graphical illustration (t) 1 0 t
Transform Pairs The Laplace transforms pairs in Table 13. 1 are important, and the most important are repeated here.