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.
Both observations are considered signs that vacuum birefringence may be occurring around the magnetar.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
Together, those features make 1E 1547 especially well suited for searching for vacuum birefringence.
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
"By carefully tracking the direction the radio waves and X-rays oscillate as the magnetar rotates, the team found that the alignment of 1E1547's magnetic and rotational poles were ideal for detecting vacuum birefringence."
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
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