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COHERENCE

Coherence refers to the relationship between waves, characterized by constant phase difference and frequency. It is categorized into temporal coherence, which relates to the time correlation of light waves, and spatial coherence, which concerns the phase relationship at different spatial points. Coherent sources, such as lasers, exhibit significant coherence lengths, making them suitable for various applications.

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34 views2 pages

COHERENCE

Coherence refers to the relationship between waves, characterized by constant phase difference and frequency. It is categorized into temporal coherence, which relates to the time correlation of light waves, and spatial coherence, which concerns the phase relationship at different spatial points. Coherent sources, such as lasers, exhibit significant coherence lengths, making them suitable for various applications.

Uploaded by

Sankalp Meshram
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COHERENCE:-

Coherence describes the properties of the interrelation between physical quantities of a single wave or between
several waves. Two waves are coherent when they have a constant relative phase or when they have zero or constant
phase difference and the same frequency

Two or more light rays which has constant phase with respect to time and positions and this phenomenon is known
as coherence.

TYPES OF COHERENCE:-

1. Temporal coherence
2. Spatial coherence

TEMPORAL COHERENCE:-

Let us take two energy states- ground state E1 and excites state E2 when an electron comes back to ground state
from its excited state it releases its excess energy as photons resulting in formation of a laser. The life time of atoms
in the normal excited state E2 is around 10-8 seconds after .

So lets say we have electric field which is oscillating like a perfect wave & its amplitude is remaining constant in
space. But we know that there is nothing like an ideal wave going for infinite length or time then it is going to change
abruptly somewhere

suppose it generates a peak ∆t1 , ∆t2 , ∆t3 and so on… (refer to fig1)

So you can see the phase is changing after a definite time but on a single phase lets say ∆t1 it has constant wave for a
phase

So we can define temporal coherence as the measure of correlation of light waves depending upon the time It is also
known as longitudinal coherence. It is a type of coherence depending upon the time. The temporal coherence is
explained by the lifetime of atoms in their excited state.

Coherence light:-

The light rays which travels some distance in time ∆t is known as coherence light.

The length for which the ideal behaviour of this wave maintained is called as coherence length and for the time
which it is to be maintained is known as coherence time

L=c. ∆t

Where L is coherence length.

We know that ,

∆t= 1/∆ν

L=c/∆ν ---- ①

We can write this in wavelength form,

We knew that,

C=ν/λ

ν =c/ λ = c λ-1

∆ν
=c- λ-2
∆λ
= -c/λ2
∆ν=-c/λ2. ∆ λ -----②
Now putting back eqn 2 in eqn 1

L=c λ2/∆ λ

L= λ2/∆ λ

As Q= purity factor = λ2/∆ λ

L=λ.Q

Coherent time: when we are talking about the phase relationship maintained between for a single wave , so we
define this time as coherent time and denotes by τc

Lc= τc x C ( Lc is coherence light)

COHERENT SOURCE are mercury, sodium paper lamp and normal torch has coherence length of about 2cm beyond
this you will not be able to to get the pattern. For example:- we are doing single slit diffraction using spectrometer,
then we get the pattern for short distance of this after that you cannot get it . but for laser light, coherence length
can go for several kilometres which made to Marvelous candidate , suitable for many applications.

SPATIAL COHERENCE:-

Spatial coherence refers to the phase relationship between the radiations fields at different space points. i.e they
are not collinear. If phase has two points A and B are maintaining the same relationship then both these points are
said to be as spatially coherent.

Now let us suppose that we have a source S which is giving out a spherical wavefront at point A ,b c

I put a beam splitter over here. Now in spatial coherence we are looking for spatial relationship between the
radiation field at different space points

Now we are going to see A and C phase relationship , so if both are maintaing phase relationship then those two
points should be equidistant

So if distance SA= SC and SA<= Lc then only the points will be on same phase

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