Complex Exponential Modulation
Many communication systems rely on the concept of sinusoidal amplitude modulation, in which a complex exponential or a sinusoidal signal, $ c(t)\! $, has its amplitude modulated by the information-bearing signal, $ x(t)\! $. $ x(t)\! $ is the modulating signal, and $ c(t)\! $ is the carrier signal. The modulated signal, $ y(t)\! $, is the product of these two signals:
An important objective of amplitude modulation is to produce a signal whose frequency range is suitable for transmission over the communication channel that is to be used.
One important for of modulation is when a complex exponential is used as the carrier.
$ \omega_c\! $ is called the carrier frequency, and $ \theta_c\! $ is called the phase of the carrier.
Graphically, this equation looks as follows,
$ x(t)\! $ ----------> x --------> $ x_p(t)\! $ ^ | | $ c(t) = e^{j(\omega_c t + \theta_c)}\! $
