coherente

Coherence is a property of waves that describes the correlation between them over time and space. Coherent waves maintain a constant phase relationship, which is crucial for understanding interference patterns, where they can produce distinct maxima and minima.

There are two main types of coherence: temporal and spatial. Temporal coherence refers to the ability of a wave to maintain a consistent phase relationship over time, characterized by coherence time or length. Spatial coherence describes the correlation between waves at different points in space, with high spatial coherence indicating similarity across locations.

Coherence is essential in various technologies. Lasers produce highly coherent light, vital for precision applications like cutting and medical surgeries. Holography relies on coherent light to record and reconstruct 3D images. Interferometry, which uses coherent wave interference, is crucial for precise measurements in fields such as astronomy and metrology.