Coherent

Key Stage 5

Two sources of waves are coherent if they emit waves with a constant phase difference.

Coherent sources produce waves that are in sync, having a constant phase relationship.
Coherence is necessary for producing clear interference patterns.
Coherent visible light are typically monochromatic and have the same frequency.
Coherence is essential in applications like lasers, holography, and interferometry.
Coherence can be temporal (constant phase difference over time) or spatial (constant phase difference across space).
The degree of coherence affects the visibility and contrast of interference fringes.
Achieving coherence often involves stabilizing the frequency and phase of the wave sources.

Laser light is coherent and can produce clear interference and diffraction patterns.

In a double-slit experiment, coherent light sources create distinct and stable interference fringes.