Sparse signal representations using the tunable Q-factor wavelet transform

Abstract

The tunable Q-factor wavelet transform (TQWT) is a fully-discrete wavelet transform for which the Q-factor, Q, of the underlying wavelet and the asymptotic redundancy (over-sampling rate), r, of the transform are easily and independently specified. In particular, the specified parameters Q and r can be real-valued. Therefore, by tuning Q, the oscillatory behavior of the wavelet can be chosen to match the oscillatory behavior of the signal of interest, so as to enhance the sparsity of a sparse signal representation. The TQWT is well suited to fast algorithms for sparsity-based inverse problems because it is a Parseval frame, easily invertible, and can be efficiently implemented using radix-2 FFTs. The TQWT can also be used as an easily-invertible discrete approximation of the continuous wavelet transform.