The Response of LTI systems to complex Exponential Signals

1. The eigenfuctions and eigenvalues of LTI systems

The importance of the responses of LTI systems to complex exponential signals lies in the fact that the responses are a constant times the corresponding input values. In other words ,the exponential signals are theeigenfunctions of the LTI system and their amplitudes are the system'seigenvalue.

 Specifically, 

 

where the complex amplitude factor H(s) and H(z) are determined by s and z respectively i.e. if s and z is given , we can calculate the values of H((s) and H(z) . 

2. The calculation of H(s) and H(z)

let's consider the impulse response of a LTI system is h(t) and the input is x(t)= exp(st) . From our early discussion in the convolution integral representation of LTI systems and using the commutative law of convolution operation , we have 

and 

Hence , we can conclude that 

     

Later we will know that H(s) and H(z) are actually the Fourier  Transforms  of unit impulse responses in continuous time and discrete time respectively .