# Possibilties of chebyshev polynomial waveshaping

When talking about harmonic distortion, or more specifically waveshaping, we say the order of distortion, can be solved from the equation:

$x^n$

Where n is the order of distortion. To my knowledge the complete result of any waveshaping function can be had by summing all of the different orders of harmonic distortion, multiplied with an appropriate index $a_n$.

$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} a_nx^n = WaveshaperFunction$$

Be aware that by feeding the equation with $x=sin(\omega t)$, the highest frequency any $x^n$ can produce is $sin(n*\omega t)$. However, higher orders can still produce multiple different frequencies for a sinusoidal input.

Chebyshev polynomials addresses the issue, removing any other frequencies limiting the harmonic distortion to only $sin(n*\omega t)$, producing an orthogonal result. The polynomials are defined as:

$T_0(x) = 1$

$T_1(x) = 2x-1$

$T_{n+1}(x)=2xT_n-T_{n-1}$

Now, since the result of putting any $sin(\omega t)$ through the chebyshev waveshaper is a sine with a frequency multiple of N, it is easy to say that any harmonic signal with the original signal's phase (or inverted phase) can be produced by summing over all the chebyshev polynomials. That is to say, summing over all the polynomials, any waveshaping function can be generated.

$$\sum_{n=1}^{\infty} b_nT_n(x) = WaveshaperFunction$$

Where $b_n$ represents the amplitude of nth generated harmonic, given a sine input. $T_n$ represents the cheyshev polynomial producing nth harmonic given sine input. I think there could be many advantages for thinking about time-invariant harmonic distortion or intermodulation distortion through this framework rather than through the before-mentioned orders.

As for the question, did I make a mistake somewhere? Particularly I am not so certain that any function can be generated through summing the chebyshev polynomials. Chebyshev polynomials seem to not care about the amplitude of the input sine wave (apart from some DC offset differences), yet I can easily generate a waveshaper function that dose so (any function that is linear near 0 and then changes). Re-framed, can the polynomials generate any possible function?

For $-1 <= x <= 1$, let's compare Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind, $T_n(x)$, and the basis functions of the Fourier cosine series, $F_n(x)$:

$F_n(x)=\cos(n \pi x)$

$T_n(x)=\cos(n\ \text{acos}\ x)$

Writing $T_n(x_T) = F_n(x_F)$ and solving for $x_F$ gives $x_F = (\text{acos}\ x_T) / pi$, revealing that the Chebyshev polynomial series is simply an argument-warped version of the Fourier cosine series that maps the range $0 <= x_F <= 1$ to $-1 <= x_T <= 1$:

This exclusion of $x_F < 0$ makes irrelevant the constraint that the Fourier cosine series is only applicable to even functions, functions symmetric around $x_F = 0$, meaning that $f(x_F) = f(-x_F)$. The mapping function is well-behaved in the range of interest, so if the Fourier cosine series can represent any even function, then the Chebyshev polynomial series can represent any function.

Not knowing the amplitude of the input sinusoid, it is not possible to control the proportional amplitudes of the generated harmonics by the choice of the waveshaper. For example if the waveshaper is $f(x) = x^2 + x$:

$$f(\cos x) = \frac{1}{2} + \cos x + \frac{1}{2} \cos 2x\\ f(\frac{1}{2} \cos x) = \frac{1}{8} + \frac{1}{2} \cos x + \frac{1}{8} \cos 2x$$

The first one has the amplitude of the second harmonic at -6 dB compared to the fundamental, and the second one at -12 dB. Chebyshev polynomials are no miracle cure. The above polynomial $x^2 + x$ was a weighted sum of the first three Chebyshev polynomials. Any polynomial can be written as a weighted sum of Chebyshev polynomials, and vice versa.

The problem persists for pure Chebyshev polynomials, for example $f(x) = 4 x^3 - 3x$:

$$f(\cos x) = \cos 3x\\ f(\frac{1}{2} \cos x) = \frac{1}{8} \cos 3x - \frac{9}{8} \cos x$$

A Chebyshev polynomial series does have the advantage of better numerical stability than a simple power series, and if the amplitude of the input sinusoid is controlled somehow, it can be used to control the level of harmonics in the way you describe.

• Thank you! Yet another truly informative answer. I made an error with graphic calculator (possibly concentrating on wrong polynomials) and the possible functions generated by the polynomials seemed to be linearish in terms of the amplitudes of the input (save DC). Can you expand though, why does pure cosine series represent any waveshaper function, when normally you would also need phase (or sine waves) to represent any function? I didn't completely understand where this feature originates from.
– Dole
Oct 14, 2015 at 12:31
• Not any function but any even function Oct 14, 2015 at 18:42