What does suppression refer to in signal processing?

Suppression in signal processing specifically refers to the elimination of an undesired portion of a signal. This can involve various techniques aimed at minimizing or removing noise, interference, or specific frequency components from a signal that are not wanted. Suppression is crucial in applications where clarity and accuracy are needed, as it helps to enhance the quality of the desired signal by reducing unwanted artifacts that can distort or mask the information being conveyed.

For example, in audio processing, suppression might involve filtering out frequencies that are not part of the desired audio range, allowing for a clearer sound. Similarly, in communication systems, suppression can help eliminate signals that interfere with the transmission of information.

In contrast, the other options relate to different signal processing concepts. Amplification refers to increasing the strength of a signal, modulation involves altering a signal to encode information, and mixing of multiple frequencies pertains to combining different signals, which is distinct from the process of suppression. Thus, recognizing suppression as the elimination of undesired elements is essential for effective signal handling.