= Carrier wave
{title2=$e^{i(k_0x-\omega_ct)}$}
A <carrier wave> is the rapid reference oscillation in a modulated <wave>. In the narrow-packet representation $\psi=A(x,t)e^{i(k_0x-\omega_ct)}$, choose $k_0$ near the centre of the <frequency spectrum> and $\omega_c=\omega(k_0)$ on its <dispersion relation>. Its constant-<wave phase> reference moves at <phase velocity> $\omega_c/k_0$. This reference need not coincide with a <local maximum> of the complete real wavefield when the <wave envelope> varies. Moving the reference $k_0$ shifts some slow <wave phase> into $A$ without changing $\psi$.
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