Nicol prism
Calcite light separator
A Nicol prism is an optical device that produces polarized light, made by cutting a crystal of calcite diagonally and cementing the pieces back together.
Light entering the prism splits into two rays; one is reflected away while the other passes through polarized.
Named after Scottish physicist William Nicol, who invented it in 1828, it was the standard polarizer before modern alternatives replaced it.
- double refractionLight splits into two paths
- Iceland sparTransparent birefringent calcite variety
- opticsScience of illumination
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
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- Prisms
- polarizationdivide, polarized light, divisiveness, polarizing filter, partisanship