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

Brewster's discoveries respecting double refraction and dipolarisation proved the essential truth of the classification of crystalline forms according to the number of axes, by showing that the molecular constitution depends upon the axes.

From Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects Everyman's Library by Spencer, Herbert

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

He further proved that substances under pressure and strain could produce double refraction in them, as did glass under the same conditions in light.

From Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose His Life and Speeches by Bose, Jagadis Chandra, Sir

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

From Heroes of Science: Physicists by Garnett, William