intermodulación

Intermodulation is a phenomenon that occurs in nonlinear systems where two or more input signals at different frequencies combine to produce new output signals at frequencies that are sums and differences of the original frequencies. These new frequencies are called intermodulation distortion products. For example, if two signals with frequencies f1 and f2 are input into a nonlinear system, intermodulation products can appear at frequencies such as f1 + f2, f1 - f2, 2f1 + f2, and 2f2 + f1.

This distortion is undesirable in many applications, particularly in radio frequency (RF) systems, telecommunications, and audio amplification. In RF systems, intermodulation products can interfere with legitimate signals, leading to reduced signal quality and potential communication failures. For instance, if a receiver is exposed to strong out-of-band signals, their intermodulation products could fall within the desired reception band, masking the desired signal or causing false detections.

The severity of intermodulation distortion depends on the nonlinearity of the system and the strength of the input signals. Techniques to mitigate intermodulation include using linear components, filtering, and careful system design to minimize signal levels where nonlinearities are present. Understanding and controlling intermodulation is crucial for ensuring the performance and reliability of electronic systems.