What does coherent exactly mean?

  • Thread starter Thread starter primarygun
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Coherent Mean
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around the concept of coherence in waves, particularly in the context of light and its interference properties. Participants are exploring the definitions and implications of coherence, including phase difference and the conditions necessary for interference to occur.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster questions the meaning of coherence and its relationship to phase difference, suggesting that waves with a half wavelength difference might still exhibit interference. Other participants discuss the nature of coherent light and its significance in applications like lasers, while also introducing the concepts of spatial and temporal coherence.

Discussion Status

Participants are actively engaging with the definitions and implications of coherence, with some providing insights into different types of coherence. There is an exploration of the differences between light waves and water waves, indicating a productive direction in understanding the topic.

Contextual Notes

Some participants are questioning the assumptions about wave behavior and coherence, particularly in comparing different types of waves. The discussion reflects a mix of established concepts and emerging questions about coherence in various contexts.

primarygun
Messages
233
Reaction score
0
What does coherent exactly mean? What does same phase difference refer to?
Why these two factors must be present so as to create interference?
I'd think if a wave which has a half wavelength to another, same speed.
the phenomenon can be observed clearly too.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
https://www.physicsforums.com/journal.php?s=&action=view&journalid=13790&perpage=10&page=9

Check out the 'for microelectrinics and nanotechnology lovers' entry


There are two types of coherency : spatial and time-like coherence. For example let's look at a wave that consists out of two subwaves. If you would look at some point on each subwave, you will see that the distances between those two points (one point on each subwave) does not alter when the wave propagates through space and time. One subwave does not run away from the other subwave, they stay together. This kind of wave is very ordened and no subwave will scatter off.

marlon
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Thank you.
So water wave is really different from light wave as a light wave contain many incoherent small wave but water wave does not contain?
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
1K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
5K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 20 ·
Replies
20
Views
4K