The contrast profile method of measuring strong magnetic fields (Loughhead and Bray 1976) offers the advantages of high spatial resolution and freedom from the saturation effects encountered with the conventional magnetograph. This paper explores theoretically the extent to which the application of Fourier transforms to magnetic contrast profile data can facilitate the derivation of the various field and velocity parameters. For a stationary solar feature, Fourier transforms offer no advantage.

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... However, for a moving feature the Fourier sine transform provides a simpler and more sensitive means of inferring the magnitude and direction of the field and the line-of-sight velocity than the original contrast data.