coherence length


coherence length

[kō′hir·əns ‚leŋkth] (physics) For a beam of particles, the typical length of a wave packet along the beam; the more monochromatic the beam, the greater its coherence length. (solid-state physics) A measure of the distance through which the effect of any local disturbance is spread out in a superconducting material. Also known as coherence distance.