atténuatrices

Atténuatrices is the plural feminine noun used to describe devices or mechanisms that attenuate—i.e., reduce the amplitude, power, or intensity of a signal, sound, radiation, or other quantity. In English, the common term is attenuator; in French, atténuateur (masculine) or atténuatrice (feminine) are used, with atténuatrices referring to multiple feminine devices.

Applications span electronics, optics, and acoustics. Electronic or RF attenuators are two-port devices that lower signal levels without amplifying them. They can be fixed or variable, passive (such as T-pad or Pi-pad networks) or active. Optical attenuators reduce light power, for example neutral density filters or variable optical attenuators used in fiber-optic systems. Acoustic attenuators, including silencers and mufflers, decrease sound pressure or noise in ventilation, exhaust, or machinery.

Key performance characteristics include insertion loss (the attenuation achieved), return loss or VSWR (how well the device is matched to a line), bandwidth, and stability under temperature changes. Atténuatrices are used in calibration, protection of receivers, signal conditioning, and laboratory experiments; they also feature in standards for measurement and transmission systems (ITU-T, IEC, IEEE).

See also: attenuator, pad network, neutral density filter, optical attenuator.