written by
Michael Davidson, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Mortimer Abramowitz
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is a Java simulation on the phenomenon known as birefringence (double refraction). It depicts light passing through a crystal of calcite known as Iceland Spar, which has strong birefringent properties resulting in a double image. Included is a text explanation of the basic concepts underlying the phenomenon.
This item is part of a larger collection of materials for students of introductory optics and microscopy. See Related items on this page for a full tutorial by the same authors on Optical Birefringence.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6759">Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and M. Abramowitz. Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006.</a>
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and M. Abramowitz, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html).
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and M. Abramowitz, Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html>.
Davidson, M., Parry-Hill, M., & Abramowitz, M. (2006, June 15). Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar. Retrieved October 14, 2024, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html
Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and M. Abramowitz. Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html (accessed 14 October 2024).
%A Michael Davidson %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Mortimer Abramowitz %T Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar %D June 15, 2006 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html %O application/java
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Abramowitz, Mortimer %D June 15, 2006 %T Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - Double Refraction (Birefringence) in Iceland Spar %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2024 %N 14 October 2024 %8 June 15, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/icelandspar/index.html
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This is the full index of resources on polarized light microscopy by the same authors. It includes basic concepts, microscope configuration, history of the technique and its applications, and full tutorials on optical birefringence and polarization of light. Also included are links to more than a dozen related interactive Java simulations.
This item is an interactive Java simulation by the same authors on the topic of birefringence. It simulates a virtual microscope in which users can view a crystal in a full 360-degree rotation to see the effects of this phenomenon.
This item is the full tutorial by the same authors relating to birefringence, also known as double refraction of light. It contains an introduction to birefringence and links to several related interactive Java simulations.
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