Ideally (i.e., for light with perfect spatial coherence), one has well-defined phase fronts, i.e., surfaces connecting points with equal optical phase. Similarly, spatial coherence is related to the correlation between phases at different points in space. These are plans in case of plane waves, but can also be curved or even scrambled in complicated ways.Ī high temporal coherence essentially means that the optical phase evolves systematically and predictably in time. Wavefronts are surfaces with equal optical phase. When an optical wave can be described with a phasor (i.e., a complex amplitude), the optical phase can be associated with the complex phase.įor example, a plane wave propagating in z direction can be described with a phasor A exp( i ( k z − ω t)), where the optical phase is arg( A) + k z − ω t. The temporal derivative of the phase determines the instantaneous frequency. The phase advances by 2 π per oscillation cycle, which means (for optical waves) substantial phase changes within a single femtosecond. (For a plane wave propagating in free space, the electric and magnetic field are in phase, i.e., their phase values are identical.) The phase determines in which part of an oscillation cycle the electric field is. Optical radiation is associated with electromagnetic waves, and as other waves those can be characterized with an amplitude and a phase. ![]() ![]() How to cite the article suggest additional literature Encyclopedia > letter O > optical phase Optical Phaseĭefinition: the phase of the electric field of an optical wave, usually considered in the time domainĬategories: general optics, physical foundations
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