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Fourier Transforms and Structure Factors
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Fourier Transforms and Structure Factors

work by Wrinch
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Dorothy Maud Wrinch was a mathematician and biochemist known for her work applying mathematical concepts to the structure of proteins. Her most recognized work is Fourier Transforms and Structure Factors (1946), which utilized mathematical concepts to analyze X-ray crystallographic data.1

A Fourier transform breaks down a signal into its constituent frequencies, representing it in the frequency domain by detailing the phase and amplitude of each component. The fast Fourier transform (FFT) is an algorithm that significantly reduces the computational steps required for this process, making it applicable in fields like electrical engineering and digital signal processing.2

Crystal structures are determined through scattering experiments, often using X-rays. These experiments measure how particles scatter from a crystal to reveal atomic arrangements. Wrinch's work connected these mathematical tools with the experimental determination of molecular structures.31

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. Dorothy Maud Wrinch
  2. fast Fourier transform
  3. crystal - Determination of crystal structures

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