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FS coefficients of periodic square wave

Short answer

With period T and ω0=2π/T, a_0 = 2A T1/T. For k≠0, a_k = (A sin(k ω0 T1))/(k π). For a 50% duty cycle (T=4T1), a_0 = A/2 and a_k = A sin(kπ/2)/(kπ), with even harmonics zero.

A periodic square wave as shown in figure below is defined over one period as: x(t) = A for |t| < T₁; 0 for T₁ < |t| < T/2. Determine the Fourier series coefficients for x(t). [Figure: periodic rectangular pulse train of height A and period T; each pulse is centred on t = 0, ±T, … and extends from −T₁ to T₁]

The signal has period TT, so ω0=2π/T\omega_0 = 2\pi/T. Over one period (−T/2-T/2 to T/2T/2) it equals AA only for ∣t∣<T1|t| < T_1.

ak=1T∫−T/2T/2x(t)e−jkω0tdt=1T∫−T1T1A e−jkω0tdta_k = \frac{1}{T}\int_{-T/2}^{T/2}x(t)e^{-jk\omega_0 t}dt = \frac{1}{T}\int_{-T_1}^{T_1}A\,e^{-jk\omega_0 t}dt

DC term (k=0k = 0)

a0=1T∫−T1T1A dt=2AT1Ta_0 = \frac{1}{T}\int_{-T_1}^{T_1}A\,dt = \frac{2AT_1}{T}

This is the average value (height times duty cycle).

For k≠0k \ne 0

ak=AT[e−jkω0t−jkω0]−T1T1=AT⋅ejkω0T1−e−jkω0T1jkω0=2Akω0Tsin⁡(kω0T1)=Asin⁡(kω0T1)kπ(ω0T=2π)\begin{aligned} a_k &= \frac{A}{T}\left[\frac{e^{-jk\omega_0 t}}{-jk\omega_0}\right]_{-T_1}^{T_1} = \frac{A}{T}\cdot\frac{e^{jk\omega_0 T_1} - e^{-jk\omega_0 T_1}}{jk\omega_0} \\ &= \frac{2A}{k\omega_0 T}\sin(k\omega_0 T_1) \\ &= \frac{A\sin(k\omega_0 T_1)}{k\pi} \qquad (\omega_0 T = 2\pi) \end{aligned}

Result

ak={2AT1T,k=0Asin⁡(kω0T1)kπ=2AT1T sinc(2kT1T),k≠0a_k = \begin{cases} \dfrac{2AT_1}{T}, & k = 0 \\[2mm] \dfrac{A\sin(k\omega_0 T_1)}{k\pi} = \dfrac{2AT_1}{T}\,\text{sinc}\left(\dfrac{2kT_1}{T}\right), & k \ne 0 \end{cases}

(with sinc(x)=sin⁡(πx)/(πx)\text{sinc}(x) = \sin(\pi x)/(\pi x)). The coefficients are real and even because x(t)x(t) is real and even.

Special case, 50% duty cycle (T=4T1T = 4T_1): ω0T1=π/2\omega_0 T_1 = \pi/2, so a0=A/2a_0 = A/2 and ak=Asin⁡(kπ/2)kπa_k = \frac{A\sin(k\pi/2)}{k\pi}: a±1=A/πa_{\pm1} = A/\pi, a±2=0a_{\pm2} = 0, a±3=−A/3πa_{\pm3} = -A/3\pi, a±5=A/5πa_{\pm5} = A/5\pi, i.e. even harmonics are zero.

 a_k / A  (T = 4T1)
   0.5                 |
 0.318              |  |  |
0.0637  |           |  |  |           |
       -+--o--+--o--+--+--+--o--+--o--+--> k
-0.106        |                 |
       -5 -4 -3 -2 -1  0  1  2  3  4  5

The envelope of aka_k follows a sinc shape; making the pulse narrower (smaller T1/TT_1/T) spreads the spectrum wider.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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