A High-Speed Algorithm for the Computer Generation of Fourier Transforms

Abstract—An efficient algorithm is presented for performing the Fourier transformation operation on a digital computer. This algorithm completes the transform calculation with Nlog2N complex additions (complex additions include complex subtractions) and ½N [log2(N)-2]+1 complex multiplications. This is a considerable savings over a brute-force method of N2complex additions and multiplications, especially when considering the use of digital machines whose MULTIPLY time is much longer than ADD time.