What are coherent wave sources?

Coherent wave sources are characterized by maintaining a constant phase relationship between the waves they produce. This means that the waves oscillate in synchrony, which is crucial for phenomena such as interference and diffraction. When two wave sources are coherent, they have a fixed phase difference and typically emit waves of the same frequency.

This consistent phase relationship is vital in various applications, including laser technology and the creation of standing waves. Interference patterns, for instance, result from the superposition of coherent waves; constructive interference occurs when the waves are in phase, while destructive interference happens when they are out of phase.

In contrast, wave sources with varying amplitudes or different frequencies do not maintain a consistent phase relationship. These conditions can lead to more complex interference patterns and are not classified as coherent. Wave sources that do not produce waves obviously cannot be coherent since coherence pertains to the characteristics of actual wave generation. Thus, the defining feature of coherence is the stable phase relationship that underpins various physical effects and applications in wave physics.