Three-center four-electron bond

In mathematical analysis, a Hermitian function is a complex function with the property that its complex conjugate is equal to the original function with the variable changed in sign:

$f(-x)=\overline{f(x)}$

for all $x$ in the domain of $f$.

This definition extends also to functions of two or more variables, e.g., in the case that $f$ is a function of two variables it is Hermitian if

$f(-x_1,-x_2)=\overline{f(x_1,x_2)}$

for all pairs $(x_1,x_2)$ in the domain of $f$.

From this definition it follows immediately that, if $f$ is a Hermitian function, then

• the real part of $f$ is an even function
• the imaginary part of $f$ is an odd function

Motivation

Hermitian functions appear frequently in mathematics, physics, and signal processing. For example, the following two statements follow from basic properties of the Fourier transform:

• The function $f$ is real-valued if and only if the Fourier transform of $f$ is Hermitian.

• The function $f$ is Hermitian if and only if the Fourier transform of $f$ is real-valued.

Since the Fourier transform of a real signal is guaranteed to be Hermitian, it can be compressed using the Hermitian even/odd symmetry. This, for example, allows the discrete Fourier transform of a signal (which is in general complex) to be stored in the same space as the original real signal.

• If f is Hermitian, then $f\star g=f*g$

Where the $\star$ is cross-correlation, and $*$ is convolution.

• If both f and g are Hermitian, then $f\star g=g\star f$, which in general is not true.

See also

• Even and odd functions