misphasing

Misphasing is the condition in which the intended phase relationship between signals, waves, or system components is not achieved, resulting in phase errors that can degrade coherence, interference patterns, or signal integrity. It may involve a fixed phase offset, time-varying phase drift, or even a phase reversal, and it can arise from unequal propagation paths, delays in processing, clock jitter, or calibration errors.

In audio engineering, misphasing between microphone signals or stereo channels can produce comb filtering, reduced stereo imaging, and coloration of the frequency response. In radio and radar, phase misalignment between elements of an antenna array or between transmitter and receiver reduces beamforming gain and can broaden the main lobe or introduce offset lobes. In optics and interferometry, path-length differences cause phase errors that degrade fringe contrast and image quality. In digital communications, phase misalignment in modulation schemes such as PSK or QAM increases symbol error rate and complicates carrier recovery.

Measurement and mitigation involve diagnosing phase errors with instruments such as oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, and phase meters to quantify phase difference or phase error. Mitigation strategies include path-length equalization, delay compensation, and the use of all-pass filters or digital phase rotation to align signals, as well as careful clock synchronization and system calibration. In some contexts, deliberate misphasing may be used for artistic effects or destructive interference, but it is generally avoided where coherence and precise phase relations are essential.

See also: phase, phase shift, phase noise, beamforming, interferometry, coherent detection, clock synchronization.