Intermodulation is spelled as ɪntərmɒdjuːˈleɪʃən. The word is composed of three morphemes, "inter-", meaning between, "mode", relating to the frequencies of signals, and " -ation", indicating the action of or process of. The spelling of the word is based on phonemes or speech sounds, where each letter or letter combination corresponds to a specific sound. The symbols in the IPA phonetic transcription represent these sounds. In intermodulation, the stress falls on the third syllable, "du", which is represented by the symbol "uː".
Intermodulation, also known as intermodulation distortion (IMD), refers to an undesired phenomenon that occurs when two or more signals with contrasting frequencies combine or interact within a nonlinear system, resulting in the generation of additional frequencies that were not originally present in the input signals.
In simpler terms, intermodulation is the creation of new frequencies due to the interaction of multiple signals in a device or system that does not exhibit linear behavior, such as amplifiers or mixers.
When these frequencies combine, they produce unwanted "intermodulation products" or "intermodulation distortion." These additional frequencies can interfere with the original signals, causing distortion and degradation in audio or radio frequency systems. Intermodulation distortion is particularly problematic in high-quality audio systems, where it can introduce unwanted tones, noise, or alter the original sound.
Intermodulation can occur when signals have a relatively high power or when they are closely spaced in frequency. The phenomenon is often quantified by the intermodulation distortion ratio (IMDR), which measures the level of undesired products relative to the original signals.
To minimize intermodulation distortion, engineers employ various techniques such as utilizing linear components, carefully designing circuits to reduce nonlinearity, and employing filters or dedicated devices that eliminate or attenuate the unwanted intermodulation products.
The word "intermodulation" is composed of two root words: "inter" and "modulation".
The prefix "inter-" comes from the Latin word "inter", which means "between" or "among". It is commonly used in English to indicate the idea of interaction or reciprocal action.
The word "modulation" comes from the Latin verb "modulatus", which means "to measure, regulate, or tune". It refers to the process of varying or manipulating a carrier signal in order to transmit information.
Therefore, "intermodulation" essentially refers to a phenomenon or process that occurs between or among various modulations. In the field of audio and signal processing, it specifically refers to the generation of unwanted signals or distortion caused by the interaction of multiple frequency components.