double refraction

noun Optics.

the separation of a ray of light into two unequally refracted, plane-polarized rays of orthogonal polarizations, occurring in crystals in which the velocity of light rays is not the same in all directions.
Also called birefringence.

Origin of double refraction

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby double refraction

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British Dictionary definitions for double refraction

double refraction

noun

the splitting of a ray of unpolarized light into two unequally refracted rays polarized in mutually perpendicular planes Also called: birefringence