The ambiguity function and Cohen's class of bilinear phase-space distributions are represented in a quasi-polar coordinate system instead of in a Cartesian system. Relationships between these distributions and the fractional Fourier transform are derived; in particular, derivatives of the ambiguity function are related to moments of the fractional power spectra. A simplification is achieved for the description of underspread signals, for optical beam characterization, and for the generation of signal-adaptive phase-space distributions.
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