dichroism

American  

[dahy-kroh-iz-uhm] / ˈdaɪ kroʊˌɪz əm /

noun

1. Crystallography. pleochroism of a uniaxial crystal such that it exhibits two different colors when viewed from two different directions under transmitted light.

2. Chemistry. the exhibition of essentially different colors by certain solutions in different degrees of dilution or concentration.

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dichroism British  

/ ˈdaɪkrəʊˌɪzəm /

noun

1. Also called: dichromaticism.  a property of a uniaxial crystal, such as tourmaline, of showing a perceptible difference in colour when viewed along two different axes in transmitted white light See also pleochroism

2. a property of certain solutions as a result of which the wavelength (colour) of the light transmitted depends on the concentration of the solution and the length of the path of the light within the solution

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Etymology

Origin of dichroism

1810–20; < Greek díchro ( os ) ( dichroic ) + -ism

Example Sentences

The study, titled "Intrinsic dichroism in amorphous and crystalline solids with helical light," was published in Nature Communications.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

Researchers at the University of Ottawa have found that using helical light beams in disordered solids reveals a phenomenon known as dichroism, which is differential absorption of light.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

"Our team developed a new method to show that non-crystalline solids can exhibit helical dichroism, which means they react differently to light that twists in different directions," says Professor Bhardwaj.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

However, a new uOttawa study disproves this theory and shows that amorphous solids actually exhibit dichroism, meaning that they selectively absorb light of different polarizations.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

Pink spinel is without dichroism, being singly refracting.

From A Text-Book of Precious Stones for Jewelers and the Gem-Loving Public by Wade, Frank Bertram