temporal coherence

Temporal coherence refers to the consistency and predictability of a system over time. In various fields, such as physics and signal processing, it describes how well a wave or signal maintains its structure as it evolves. A system with high temporal coherence has minimal variations over time, allowing it to produce stable, consistent results. For example, in optics, a laser exhibits high temporal coherence, producing a steady beam of light, while ordinary light sources have lower coherence, resulting in more scattered and less uniform light. This concept is crucial for applications like telecommunications and imaging technologies.