Auditorium Aulas Comunes D (edificio del Consejo Superior)

en Celebración del 50 Aniversario del FaMAF

The lecture is devoted to the relevance of the Fourier transformation in science. Its importance is fundamental to any experimental exploration where input-output relations are being exploited. Experimental results, obtained in a time-domain experiment, need to be transformed into the frequency domain for comprehension, and data from momentum space investigations require a transformation into the geometric space for visualizing the results.

Fruitful applications are plentiful. The first practical usage of the Fourier transformation in spectroscopy took place in optical interferometry, starting with the investigations by A. A. Michelson. Later, magnetic resonance, especially NMR, profited enormously from applications of the Fourier transformation. Molecular and medical imaging experiments, using x-rays and magnetic resonance are today among the most prominent applications of the Fourier transformation. Particularly promising is functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) for the better understanding of brain functions. A survey on these exciting possibilities is presented.