Linear time-invariant systems cannot generate new frequency components

Evidence

An LTI system also guarantees that it does not create any new frequency components that do not exist in the input signal, i.e., it does not generate non-linear distortion. Thus, a pure tone (a sinusoidal signal) remains a pure tone when propagating through an LTI system. — Ville Pulkki, Matti Karjalainen, Communication Acoustics- An…, 350

Categorization

Category: Definitional Content

• DEFINE: Defines a key property distinguishing LTI systems: no new frequency components means no nonlinear distortion.

Related

• LTI systems cannot create new frequency components from their input signals (similarity 0.96)
• Non-linear and time-variant systems generate frequency components absent from the input (similarity 0.85)
• Nonlinear vibration generates new frequencies absent from the original stimulus (similarity 0.82)
• Nonlinear distortion generates new frequencies that change timbre with volume (similarity 0.79)
• Perfect sound reproduction requires an LTI system with unity transfer function (similarity 0.78)