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
Derived 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.
Their analysis carefully examined the uncertainties that affect measurements of cosmic birefringence.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
Researchers investigating a mysterious cosmic phenomenon called cosmic birefringence have created a new approach to reduce uncertainty in how it is measured.
From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026
Dynamical birefringence: electron–hole recollisions as probes of Berry curvature.
From Nature • May 1, 2018
Note the double-refracted word “calcite” in the center of the figure due to birefringence.
From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017
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.
