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

See Examples For:

double refraction

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

From Time Magazine Archive

He deduced from it the laws of reflection and refraction, and applied it to explain the double refraction of Iceland spar.

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

In addition to this, some of the phenomena exhibited by it, such as diffraction and double refraction, are quite incompatible with the theory that the ether is an elastic solid.

From The Machinery of the Universe Mechanical Conceptions of Physical Phenomena by A. E. (Amos Emerson) Dolbear

Its strong double refraction and its relative softness, as well as its great density will serve to distinguish it.

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

A more important discovery was that of double refraction temporarily produced in viscous liquids.

From Heroes of Science: Physicists by William Garnett