Modulation of the raw null (left panel) and the kernel-null (right panel) induced by a single off-axis companion located at α = +5.0 mas, δ = +5.0 and with a contrast of c = 10⁻³. This simulated kernel-nulling observation of HIP 107773 at the focus of the four VLTI UTs was in the absence of perturbations. The figures show that there is no redundancy in the kernel-nuller architecture as each of the six raw outputs and each of the three kernel outputs produces a different signal over the ±4 h range of hour angle. Whereas the raw outputs are all positive, the kernel outputs can take negative values. If the action of the nuller was uniform, each channel would register a constant and uniform amount of flux, which in the units of the left panel would be 2/3 × 10⁻³ (as shown by the dashed line).