INTERFERENCE

1. In general, extraneous energy, from natural or man-made sources, that impedes the reception of desired signals. 2. A coherent emission having a relatively narrow spectral content, e.g., a radio emission from another transmitter at approximately the same frequency , or having a harmonic frequency approximately the same as, another emission of interest to a given recipient, and which impedes reception of the desired signal by the intended recipient. Note: In the context of this definition, interference is distinguished from noise in that the latter is an incoherent emission from a natural source (e.g., lightning) or a man-made source, of a character unlike that of the desired signal ( e.g., commutator noise from rotating machinery) and which usually has a broad spectral content. 3. The effect of unwanted energy due to one or a combination of emissions, radiation , or inductions upon reception in a radiocommunication system , manifested by any performance degradation , misinterpretation, or loss of information which could be extracted in the absence of such unwanted energy. [ NTIA ] [ RR ] ( 188 ) 4. The interaction of two or more coherent or partially coherent waves, which interaction produces a resultant wave that differs from the original waves in phase , amplitude, or both. Note: Interference may be constructive or destructive, i.e., it may result in increased amplitude or decreased amplitude, respectively. Two waves equal in frequency and amplitude, and out of phase by 180°, will completely cancel one another. In phase, they create a resultant wave having twice the amplitude of either interfering beam . ( 188 )