coherence time

Coherence time refers to the duration over which a signal or wave remains stable and maintains a predictable phase relationship. In simpler terms, it's how long a wave’s properties, like frequency and phase, stay consistent before they start to change or become unpredictable. This concept is important in applications like lasers, telecommunications, and quantum computing, where maintaining a stable signal over a period ensures reliable operation and accurate data transmission. A longer coherence time means the wave stays stable longer, allowing for better precision and performance in various technologies.