Approximating the Fourier Transform of Ring-Like Images: the Focal Expansion

Fuente: arXiv
Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Niewiński, Filip, Johnson, Michael D.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
Subjects:
Online Access:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1866917387683495936
author Niewiński, Filip
Johnson, Michael D.
author_facet Niewiński, Filip
Johnson, Michael D.
contents We derive and showcase a novel approach to approximating Fourier transforms in higher dimensions, focusing specifically on the case of 2D radially concentrated ('ring-like') functions. We first reduce the problem to that of evaluating the Hankel transforms of each angular mode of the image and then use our focal expansion to approximate these remaining Hankel transforms. Our method provides a single approximation that remains accurate from small to large spatial frequencies, bridging regimes where moment-based or large-frequency asymptotic expansions are individually reliable. We explore a series of examples, showing that the leading focal term provides an accurate global approximation for a broad range of functions. We demonstrate the utility of this approximation by examining the interferometric response for toy models of a black hole's "photon ring," highlighting the application to experiments designed to measure this feature such as the Black Hole Explorer.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_05199
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Approximating the Fourier Transform of Ring-Like Images: the Focal Expansion
Niewiński, Filip
Johnson, Michael D.
High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
We derive and showcase a novel approach to approximating Fourier transforms in higher dimensions, focusing specifically on the case of 2D radially concentrated ('ring-like') functions. We first reduce the problem to that of evaluating the Hankel transforms of each angular mode of the image and then use our focal expansion to approximate these remaining Hankel transforms. Our method provides a single approximation that remains accurate from small to large spatial frequencies, bridging regimes where moment-based or large-frequency asymptotic expansions are individually reliable. We explore a series of examples, showing that the leading focal term provides an accurate global approximation for a broad range of functions. We demonstrate the utility of this approximation by examining the interferometric response for toy models of a black hole's "photon ring," highlighting the application to experiments designed to measure this feature such as the Black Hole Explorer.
title Approximating the Fourier Transform of Ring-Like Images: the Focal Expansion
topic High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena
Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics
General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.05199