Mellin transform in logarithmic coordinates ($\mathcal{M}f(\sigma +i\tau )={\hat{h}}_{\sigma }(-\tau )$)

The change of variables $x=e^u$, using the exponential function, turns the Mellin transform intoThe factor $dx=e^{u}du$ changes $x^{s-1}$ to $e^{su}$; missing this factor would shift every exponent by one. With $h_{\sigma }(u)=e^{\sigma u}f(e^u)$ and the Fourier transform convention $\hat{h}(\omega )={\int }_{\mathbb{R}}h(u)e^{-i\omega u}du$, the identity isChoosing $\sigma$ inside the Mellin fundamental strip makes $h_{\sigma }$ a Lebesgue integrable function. The minus sign in the Fourier transform argument follows from the stated convention. For the Mellin transform of an interval indicator with $[b,c]=[1,4]$ and $\sigma =0$, $h_0=1_{[0,\log 4]}$: the Fourier transform of an interval indicator is literally the same computation in a different coordinate.

Splitting the real line at $u=0$ also connects the Mellin transform to two unilateral Laplace transforms. If $k_{+}(v)=f(e^v)$ and $k_{-}(v)=f(e^{-v})$ for $v\ge 0$, thenwhere both integrals converge absolutely. Their Laplace convergence regions impose opposite endpoint conditions, explaining the two sides of the Mellin fundamental strip. Finally, $f(a{e}^u)=f(e^{u+\log a})$ shows that a change of scale is a translation in $u$. Weighted Fourier transforms of this translation give exactly the factor $a^{-s}$ in the scaling property of the Mellin transform. For a smooth function with compact support inside $(0,\infty )$, the Mellin inversion theorem follows from Fourier inversion; the existing formula states the corresponding hypotheses.