When an electrical pulse on one wire is accidentally detected on another nearby wire, this is known as what?

This phenomenon is known as crosstalk. Crosstalk occurs when a signal transmitted on one circuit or channel creates an undesired effect on another circuit or channel. In the context of electrical wiring, this is often due to electromagnetic interference (EMI) where the electric field from one wire can influence another wire that is in close proximity. This interference can lead to a degradation of the signal integrity, affecting the performance of communication systems and electronic devices.

Crosstalk can occur in various forms, including:

1. Near-End Crosstalk (NEXT): This happens when the interference is detected at the same end of the crosstalk source.
2. Far-End Crosstalk (FEXT): This is when the interference is detected at the opposite end from where the crosstalk is generated.

Mitigating crosstalk often involves proper shielding, twisting of wires, or increasing the distance between different channels to reduce the chances of interference.