birefringence

American  

[bahy-ri-frin-juhns] / ˌbaɪ rɪˈfrɪn dʒəns /

noun

Optics.

1. double refraction.

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birefringence British  

/ ˌbaɪrɪˈfrɪndʒəns /

noun

1. another name for double refraction

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birefringence Scientific  

/ bī′rĭ-frĭn′jəns /

1. 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.

2. The difference in the index of refraction between two beams passing through a substance that has this property.

3. See also refraction index of refraction

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Other Word Forms

• birefringent adjective

Etymology

Origin of birefringence

First recorded in 1885–90; bi- ¹ + refringence

Example Sentences

These observations could provide another way to verify cosmic birefringence and may help scientists uncover deeper insights into the nature of dark energy.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

Precisely determining the amount of rotation, known as the birefringence angle, is therefore essential for testing possible new physics.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

Note the double-refracted word “calcite” in the center of the figure due to birefringence.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2017

Amyloid is defined pathologically by the demonstration of green birefringence on binding of the dye Congo red and biophysically by a cross-β fibre diffraction pattern. b, Models of recombinant PrP fibrils and ex vivo prions.

From Nature • Nov. 8, 2016

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