= Spectral leakage
Multiplying a measured <signal> by a finite-duration <window function> convolves its <Fourier transform> with the transform of the window. A spectrally sharp component therefore contributes to nearby frequencies rather than remaining a single ideal line. Smooth tapering can reduce distant sidelobes at the cost of widening the main spectral feature. This finite-record effect is distinct from <aliasing>, which superposes copies of the spectrum because of time sampling.
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