In physics, coherence theory is the study of optical effects arising from partially coherent light and radio sources. Partially coherent sources are sources where the coherence time or coherence length are limited by bandwidth, by thermal noise, or by other effect. Many aspects of modern coherence theory are studied in quantum optics.
The theory of partial coherence was awoken in the 1930s due to work by P. H. van Cittert and Frits Zernike.
Read more about Coherence Theory: Topics in Coherence Theory
Famous quotes containing the words coherence and/or theory:
“When the coherence of the parts of a stone, or even that composition of parts which renders it extended; when these familiar objects, I say, are so inexplicable, and contain circumstances so repugnant and contradictory; with what assurance can we decide concerning the origin of worlds, or trace their history from eternity to eternity?”
—David Hume (1711–1776)
“Could Shakespeare give a theory of Shakespeare?”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)