Frame Sets and Zeros of Zak Transforms of Extended Gaussians

Abstract

Let $a,b,c\in\mathbb C$ with $\re(a)<0$, we show that the extended Gaussian $e^{ax^2+bx+c}$ has maximal frame set (i.e., its frame set consists of precisely all positive pairs $(α,β)$ with $αβ<1$), and its Zak transform has a unique simple zero in the unit square $[0,1)^2$ (in particular, the zero is at the center of the unit square if $b=0$). These statements extend the same results of the usual Gaussian (the cases when $a<0$ and $b,c\in\mathbb R$), and add more instances to the observation that if a continuous Wiener function has maximal frame set, then its Zak transform has a unique simple zero in the unit square. The proof of the maximality of the frame set combines metaplectic representation with a classical density result of the standard Gaussian. The proof of the uniqueness of the zero relies on properties of the theta function.