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Flutter (electronics and communication)
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<p>In <a href="/facts/Electronics/E4JhgISq">electronics</a> and <a href="/facts/Communication/EGEkchsT">communication</a>, flutter is the rapid variation of <a href="/facts/Signal/41YqUJ8c">signal</a> parameters, such as <a href="/facts/Amplitude/aEckuXJM">amplitude</a>, <a href="/facts/Phase_(waves)/cpGtuVll">phase</a>, and <a href="/facts/Frequency/QUSbPaW8">frequency</a>. Examples of electronic flutter are: </p> <ul><li>Rapid variations in received signal levels, such as variations that may be caused by <a href="/facts/Atmospheric/oUpLaGRF">atmospheric</a> disturbances, <a href="/facts/Antenna_(electronics)/pGlcXBvc">antenna</a> movements in a high wind, or interaction with other signals.</li> <li>In <a href="/facts/Radio_propagation/80y1JV4M">radio propagation</a>, a phenomenon in which nearly all radio signals that are usually reflected by <a href="/facts/Ionospheric_layer/mT9tTBE5">ionospheric layers</a> in or above the E-region experience partial or complete <a href="/facts/Absorption_(electromagnetic_radiation)/xBYKt7yS">absorption</a>.</li> <li>In radio <a href="/facts/Transmission_(telecommunications)/33zk8a0A">transmission</a>, rapidly changing signal levels, together with variable <a href="/facts/Multipath_propagation/dJFXvAbW">multipath</a> time delays, caused by <a href="/facts/Reflection_(physics)/BhcjDs79">reflection</a> and possible partial absorption of the signal by aircraft flying through the radio beam or common scatter volume.</li> <li>The variation in the transmission characteristics of a loaded <a href="/facts/Telephone_line/YdKUAka9">telephone line</a> caused by the action of telegraph direct currents on the <a href="/facts/Electrical_load/IX0XBAqB">loading</a> coils.</li> <li>In recording and reproducing equipment, the deviation of <a href="/facts/Frequency/QUSbPaW8">frequency</a> caused by irregular mechanical motion, <i>e.g.,</i> that of <a href="/facts/Capstan_(tape_recorder)/pgj5yJdN">capstan</a> angular velocity in a tape transport mechanism, during operation.</li></ul>