ordinary ray

American  

noun

1. Optics, Crystallography.  the part of a doubly refracted ray whose velocity within a crystal is the same in any direction.

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ordinary ray British  

noun

1. the plane-polarized ray of light that obeys the laws of refraction in a doubly-refracting crystal Compare double refraction extraordinary ray

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Example Sentences

In “Fresnel’s ellipsoid” the axis of rotation is proportional to 587 the velocity of the extraordinary ray, and the equatorial diameters proportional to the velocity of the ordinary ray; it is therefore an oblate spheroid for positive crystals, and a prolate spheroid for negative crystals.

From Project Gutenberg

Thus, in tourmaline the ordinary ray, which vibrates perpendicular to the principal axis, is almost completely absorbed, whilst the extraordinary ray is allowed to pass through the crystal.

From Project Gutenberg

He was the first man who brought optical science under the command of mathematics, by the discovery of the law of refraction of the ordinary ray through diaphanous bodies; and probably there is scarcely a name on record, the bearer of which has given a greater impulse to mathematical and philosophical inquiry than Des Cartes.

From Project Gutenberg

To cut a sapphire with its table on the side of the prism would be likely to cause it to have a greenish cast because of the admixture of the unpleasing "ordinary ray" of yellowish tint with the blue of the stone as seen up and down the prism.

From Project Gutenberg

If the magnetic field associated with an S-Region extends into the high solar corona through which the rays pass, then the sense of rotation corresponds to the ordinary ray of the magneto-ionic theory.

From Project Gutenberg