- #1
acme37
- 23
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I'm having some trouble understanding the idea of coherence.
Consider the phrase: "a coherent superposition of states."
Here I understand the coherence to refer to the states being coupled to each other and capable of interfering, due to a perturbing field.
How does this relate to coherent light, which I understand to be light that is monochromatic and phase-correlated? What happens if you shine light that is monochromatic, but not coherent, on the atomic system?
Consider the phrase: "a coherent superposition of states."
Here I understand the coherence to refer to the states being coupled to each other and capable of interfering, due to a perturbing field.
How does this relate to coherent light, which I understand to be light that is monochromatic and phase-correlated? What happens if you shine light that is monochromatic, but not coherent, on the atomic system?