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In "Classical Eletrodynamics" of Jackson, chapter 13.3, it is said that using the Fourier Transform:

\begin{equation} F(\vec{x}, t)=\frac{1}{(2\pi)^2} \int d^3 k \int d\omega \hspace{0.2cm} F(\vec{k}, \omega) \hspace{0.2cm}e^{i \vec{k}\cdot\vec{x} - i \omega t} \end{equation}

we have that that: $$ \delta^3(\vec{x} - \vec{v} t) $$ is transformed into: $$ \delta(\omega- \vec{k}\cdot\vec{v}) $$

I have no idea how to get this expression. Could someone explain me this or give me some hint?

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[Jackson uses the convention of a $\frac{1}{\sqrt{2\pi}}$ factor for each dimension, so there is a $\frac{1}{(2\pi)^2}$ in front of the integral in each direction.]

Start with the transform in the other direction, expressing $F(\vec k, \omega)$ in term of $F(\vec x, t)$:

$$ F(\vec k, \omega) = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^2}\int d^3x \int dt\ F(\vec x, t)\ e^{-i(\vec k \cdot \vec x - \omega t)} $$

and substitute in the delta function for $F(\vec x, t)$:

$$ F(\vec k, \omega) = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^2}\int d^3x \int dt\ \delta(\vec x - \vec v t)\ e^{-i(\vec k \cdot \vec x - \omega t)} $$

Doing the $d^3x$ integration and using the properties of the delta function just replaces the $\vec x$ with $\vec v t$ in the exponential, so we get:

$$ F(\vec k, \omega) = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^2} \int dt\ e^{-i(\vec k \cdot \vec v t - \omega t)} = \frac{1}{(2\pi)^2} \int dt\ e^{-i(\vec k \cdot \vec v - \omega) t} $$ The last integral is recognized as a representation of the delta function: $$ F(\vec k, \omega) = \frac{1}{2\pi}\delta(\vec k \cdot \vec v - \omega) $$

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  • $\begingroup$ I think I got the factors of $2\pi$ right but no guarantees. I referred to Jackson and I believe that the final formula is indeed correct: see the charge density transform in eqs 13.55 and 13.56 in the second edition. $\endgroup$
    – NickD
    Commented Oct 27, 2021 at 18:27

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