zero-beathttp://www.oed.com/dictionary/zero-beat_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_usezero beat, n.
Revised 2018

zero beatnoun

  1. 1920–
    a. Radio a method of reception in which the incoming signal is mixed with a receiver-generated oscillation of the same frequency as the carrier wave, so that no beats (beat n.1 II.9) are produced; cf. homodyne n.; b. (Physics) a condition or arrangement in which two oscillating signals have equal frequencies, or in which the harmonics of one signal form harmonic intervals with those of the other, producing no beats.
    Often attributive.
    1. 1920
      In these experiments the waves were received by the zero beat method.
      H. J. Van der Bijl, Thermionic Vacuum Tube ix. 364
    2. 1928
      If the local generated frequency is tuned to exactly the same frequency as the received signals..the condition of ‘zero beat’ is said to exist.
      G. E. Sterling & R. S. Kruse, Radio Manual iv. 149
    3. 1960
      Suppose we try to tune two strings so that they are an octave apart by adjusting them to ‘zero beat’ while playing them softly.
      A. H. Benade, Horns, Strings, & Harmony vi. 130
    4. 1982
      With this arrangement, one can explore the zero-beat situation (when frequencies are matched) as well as a variety of non-zero-beat situations.
      American Journal of Physics vol. 50 137/1
    5. 2015
      Tune the Cub to zero beat on the receiver while transmitting a signal.
      J. Purdum & D. Kidder, Arduino Projects Amateur Radio xv. 344

Originally published as part of the entry for zero, n. & adj.

zero, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.