carrier waves

Noun

carrier wave (plural carrier waves)

1. A wave that can be modulated, either in amplitude, frequency, or phase, to carry or transmit images, music, speech, or other signals.
   • This invention relates to carrier wave signaling systems and more particularly to systems of multiplex telephony employing carrier waves wherein such carrier waves of distinctive frequencies are normally impressed upon the transmission medium. Such medium may comprise any of the natural media...1920 December 21, Charles White, Carrier-wave Signaling System, US Patent 1,480,235 (PDF version), page 1, column 1
2. (obsolete) Synonym of soliton (“a self-reinforcing pulse or travelling wave caused by any non-linear effect”).
   • The same propagation through the same ether brought the rays of the sun's light from the sun to the earth, and the same carrier wave brought from the other side of the globe, from the oceans there, which were disturbed by the attraction of the sun and moon, those waves all round the coasts which...1877 November 30, J[ohn] Scott Russell, “[The Telephone. By Professor A[lexander] Graham Bell.] Discussion.”, in Journal of the Society of Arts, volume XXVI, number 1,306, London: Published for the...

   Synonyms:

   solitary wave, wave of translation, soliton