double refraction

American  

noun

Optics.

1. the separation of a ray of light into two unequally refracted, plane-polarized rays of orthogonal polarizations, occurring in crystals in which the velocity of light rays is not the same in all directions.

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double refraction British  

noun

1. Also called: birefringence.  the splitting of a ray of unpolarized light into two unequally refracted rays polarized in mutually perpendicular planes

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Etymology

Origin of double refraction

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

If it contains no metal, when viewed by polarized light it will give a double refraction effect in handsome colors.

From Time Magazine Archive

By means of Iceland spar cut in the proper direction, double refraction is capable of easy illustration.

From Six Lectures on Light Delivered In The United States In 1872-1873 by Tyndall, John

The expert would, however, note it and could detect the imitation by that difference as well as by the lack of double refraction.

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

It exhibits double refraction, and is a crystallised mineral, brittle, and showing a green streak.

From The Chemistry, Properties and Tests of Precious Stones by Mastin, John

History of the Inductive Sciences," observes that, "by the accidental placing of a rhomb of calcareous spar, upon a book or line, Bartholinus discovered the property of the double refraction of light.

From A Logic Of Facts Or, Every-day Reasoning by Holyoake, George Jacob