Characteristic functions were originally introduced as tools for the study of limit theorems of probability theory. Later it became clear that the theory of characteristic functions is also of intrinsic mathematical interest. The present monograph is intended to cover the results of significant advancement in the theory.
The general theory covered in this volume includes many new results and the author makes an important correction to previously held views on unimodality. Extensive new material is included on analytic distribution functions, ridge functions, and functions of bounded variation.