birefringence
Americannoun
noun
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The property or capacity of splitting a beam of light into two beams, each refracted at a different angle, and each polarized at a right angle to the other. Certain crystals such as calcite and quartz have this property.
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The difference in the index of refraction between two beams passing through a substance that has this property.
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See also refraction index of refraction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of birefringence
First recorded in 1885–90; bi- 1 + refringence
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Theory predicts that when a vacuum is exposed to an extraordinarily strong magnetic field, Heisenberg's virtual particles can affect how light travels, producing vacuum birefringence, or VB.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Additional observations and more advanced computer simulations could help researchers determine whether the signals really come from vacuum birefringence or whether other physical processes could produce similar effects.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Their observations may represent the first detection of vacuum birefringence occurring within a magnetar's extraordinarily powerful magnetic field.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
Although vacuum birefringence was predicted in the 1930s, Dr. Lower said scientists have yet to obtain a definitive detection.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026
The difference between the two indices is a measure of the strength of the double refraction or birefringence.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7 "Crocoite" to "Cuba" by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
