How do you describe birefringence?
Birefringence is formally defined as the double refraction of light in a transparent, molecularly ordered material, which is manifested by the existence of orientation-dependent differences in refractive index.
What is birefringence What does the word literally mean?
Birefringence literally means a medium with two different refractive indices varying as a function of polarization. Many materials exhibit some amount of birefringence either due to the material’s composition or caused by external forces. Most optical crystals are inherently birefringent.
What does positive birefringence mean?
Definition of positive birefringence : birefringence of a medium (as quartz) that transmits the ordinary rays with greater speed than the extraordinary.
What does positively birefringent mean?
What does it mean by negative birefringence?
Negative birefringence means that Δn = ne − no is less than zero. In other words, the polarization of the fast (or slow) wave is perpendicular to the optic axis when the birefringence of the crystal is positive (or negative, respectively).
Is Diamond birefringent?
Diamond belongs to the cubic crystal system and should therefore exhibit isotropic optical properties. However, it has long been documented that diamonds often show weak birefringence.
What does the optical term ‘birefringence’ mean?
Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. These optically anisotropic materials are said to be birefringent (or birefractive ).
What does birefringent mean?
Definition of birefringence. 1. : the refraction of light in an anisotropic material (such as calcite ) in two slightly different directions to form two rays According to G. Blom of Philips, video disc acrylics must be optically clear and free of striations and birefringence. Clear vinyl often is highly birefringent.
What is the abbreviation for birefringence?
What does BMV stand for? BMV stands for Biréfringence Magnétique du Vide (French quantum electrodynamics project)