double refraction
Two rays emerge
Double refraction is an optical property of certain crystals that splits a single light ray into two separate rays traveling at different speeds and directions.
Looking through such a crystal, you see a doubled image.
Calcite is the classic example—place it over text and each letter appears twice.
The technical term is birefringence.
Crystalline calcium carbonate
- Iceland sparTransparent birefringent calcite variety
- splittingDividing into parts
- Nicol prismCalcite device separating polarized rays
- retardationSlowing or delay
Along two perpendicular lines
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- tourmalineBoron silicate gemstone family
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
mica · aragonite · zircon · hexagonal · trigonal · anisotropic · dichroism
Separation into opposing extremes
- wavefrontSurface of equal phase
- HuygensSeventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
- wave theoryLight propagates as oscillations
- interferenceUnwelcome involvement in affairs
coherence · monochromatic · dispersion · polariscope · analyzer · compensator
Scientific study of gems
- mineralogyScience of inorganic solids
- petrographyScientific rock classification
- thin sectionRock sliver for microscopy
- LCD displayLiquid crystal visual output
polarizing filters · quality control · materials science · cellophane
calcite
Crystalline calcium carbonate
- Iceland sparTransparent birefringent calcite variety
- splittingDividing into parts
- Nicol prismCalcite device separating polarized rays
biaxial
Along two perpendicular lines
- calciteCrystalline calcium carbonate
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- tourmalineBoron silicate gemstone family
feldspar · mica · aragonite · zircon · hexagonal · trigonal · anisotropic · dichroism
polarization
Separation into opposing extremes
- wavefrontSurface of equal phase
- HuygensSeventeenth-century Dutch astronomer
- wave theoryLight propagates as oscillations
interference · coherence · monochromatic · dispersion · polariscope · analyzer · compensator
gemology
Scientific study of gems
- mineralogyScience of inorganic solids
- petrographyScientific rock classification
- thin sectionRock sliver for microscopy
LCD display · polarizing filters · quality control · materials science · cellophane
- Optics Historytelescope, microscope, lens, prism, diffraction
- crystal propertieshardness, luster, cleavage, fracture, streak
- polarized opticspolarized light, polarizer, analyzer, polarization, retardation
- light effectsshine, glow, gleam, shimmer, glitter
- polarizationpolarizer, divide, polarized light, divisiveness, polarizing filter
- mineralogycalcite, quartz, feldspar, mica, olivine