Some Characteristics of Light as a Waveform

In (a), two photon waves combine to give a new waveform, which has the same appearance and frequency as the initial separate waves. The photons are said to be coherent, and the amplitude of the waves (light intensity) is simply doubled. In (b), the two photon waves are shown out of step in time (incoherent). Addition of the two waveforms does not lead to a doubling of amplitude, and the new waveform is more complex, composed of a doubled overlapping frequency. In (c), the two waveforms are completely out of step (out of phase) and completely cancel each other, producing darkness rather than light (an interference phenomenon). 

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