What does birefringence mean?

Definitions for birefringence
ˌbaɪ rɪˈfrɪn dʒənsbire·frin·gence

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word birefringence.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. double refraction, birefringencenoun

    splitting a ray into two parallel rays polarized perpendicularly

Wiktionary

  1. birefringencenoun

    the splitting of a ray of light into two parallel rays of perpendicular polarization by passage through an optically anisotropic medium

Wikipedia

  1. Birefringence

    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). The birefringence is often quantified as the maximum difference between refractive indices exhibited by the material. Crystals with non-cubic crystal structures are often birefringent, as are plastics under mechanical stress. Birefringence is responsible for the phenomenon of double refraction whereby a ray of light, when incident upon a birefringent material, is split by polarization into two rays taking slightly different paths. This effect was first described by Danish scientist Rasmus Bartholin in 1669, who observed it in calcite, a crystal having one of the strongest birefringences. In the 19th century Augustin-Jean Fresnel described the phenomenon in terms of polarization, understanding light as a wave with field components in transverse polarization (perpendicular to the direction of the wave vector). Parametric down-conversion is a phenomenon similar to birefringence arising in nonlinear crystals in the presence of an electromagnetic field.

ChatGPT

  1. birefringence

    Birefringence, also known as double refraction, is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. This means the material can split a ray of light into two rays, each travelling at different speeds and in different directions when it passes through this specific material. It is commonly observed in crystals and certain types of plastics.

Wikidata

  1. Birefringence

    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. The birefringence is often quantified by the maximum difference in refractive index within the material. Birefringence is also often used as a synonym for double refraction, the decomposition of a ray of light into two rays when it passes through a birefringent material. This effect was first described by the Danish scientist Rasmus Bartholin in 1669, who saw it in calcite. Crystals with anisotropic crystal structures are often birefringent, as well as plastics under mechanical stress.

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Birefringence

    The property of nonisotropic media, such as crystals, whereby a single incident beam of light traverses the medium as two beams, each plane-polarized, the planes being at right angles to each other. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of birefringence in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of birefringence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

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"birefringence." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 23 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/birefringence>.

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