birefringence

noun

bi·​re·​frin·​gence ˌbī-ri-ˈfrin-jən(t)s 

plural birefringences

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.

—Technical Survey

called also double refraction

2

: the visual effect produced by birefringence

The diagnosis was made before scanning in 22 patients by the detection of deposits with apple-green birefringence …

—Philip N. Hawkins et al.

3

: the difference between the angles of refraction of light rays exhibiting birefringence

birefringent

ˌbī-ri-ˈfrin-jənt 

adjective

Examples of birefringence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

To get a faster response time on the PG27AQN, Asus made an IPS panel with liquid crystals carrying higher birefringence (basically, light refraction in two directions) and lower viscosity (or stickiness) to allow the liquid crystals to twist rapidly so light can pass through. —Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 8 Jan. 2022

When light passes through this region of space where vacuum birefringence occurs, it gets polarized, but only if this phenomenon inherent to quantum field theory is true. —Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 7 May 2021

Icelandic spars are crystals of calcium carbonate which have a special property called birefringence: light hitting the mineral is split and follows two parallel paths through it, which explains how calcite makes objects look doubled. —Douglas Main, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2011

Like ordinary cellophane, the birefringence can split light into separate directions, leading to weird optical illusions, distortions, and magnification—all from the simple presence of the magnetic field. —Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 17 June 2022

This produces something called a birefringence in the vacuum itself. —Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 17 June 2022

One of them is known as vacuum birefringence: the notion that a strong, external field can cause this type of polarization — the creation of an internal field — to empty space itself. —Ethan Siegel, Forbes, 7 May 2021

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary bi- entry 1 + refringent refracting, from Latin refringent-, refringens, present participle of refringere to break up — more at refract

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

birefringence

noun

bi·​re·​frin·​gence ˌbī-ri-ˈfrin-jən(t)s 

: the refraction of light in an anisotropic material in two slightly different directions to form two rays

also : the visual effect produced by birefringence

The diagnosis was made before scanning in 22 patients by the detection of deposits with apple-green birefringence …

—Philip N. Hawkins et al., The New England Journal of Medicine

birefringent

-jənt 

adjective