How harmonics happens when you mix two signals? Doing a search in quora about Why does Amplitude Modulation have sideband frequencies? i found an answer and within it, a user answered with the following statement:
&quot;When you try mixing two signals, there will be something know as harmonics that will occur. This means that frqncy X (+) Frqncy Y will not just form frequency Z but some more frequencies that will be embedded into the system.&quot;
Can someone clarify and or exemplify the statement?
Amplitude modulation is a linear operation (excluding the carrier in the classical AM) and does not introduce harmonics due to the modulated signal. Sidebands are not harmonics. They are created as the message signal spectrum is shifted up to carrier frequency.
Frequency mixing of a message signal with a sinusoidal carrier, another definition of AM, does not introduce harmonics.
In a practical setting if there are some nonlinearities in the implementation (a deviation from the ideal case) you may have harmonics. Otherwise No.