written by
Michael Davidson, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, Mortimer Abramowitz, Douglas B. Murphy, Kenneth R. Spring, Robert Sutter, and Thomas J. Fellers
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is a tutorial relating to birefringence, also known as double refraction of light. Birefringence occurs naturally in many transparent solids such as calcite crystals, but can also be created in optically isotropic materials. This tutorial contains an introduction to birefringence and links to several related interactive Java simulations. It is part of a larger collection of materials for students of introductory optics and microscopy developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6766">Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, M. Abramowitz, D. Murphy, K. Spring, R. Sutter, and T. Fellers. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., August 1, 2003.</a>
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, M. Abramowitz, D. Murphy, K. Spring, R. Sutter, and T. Fellers, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html).
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, M. Abramowitz, D. Murphy, K. Spring, R. Sutter, and T. Fellers, Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html>.
Davidson, M., Parry-Hill, M., Abramowitz, M., Murphy, D., Spring, K., Sutter, R., & Fellers, T. (2003, August 1). Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence. Retrieved September 14, 2024, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html
Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, M. Abramowitz, D. Murphy, K. Spring, R. Sutter, and T. Fellers. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., August 1, 2003. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html (accessed 14 September 2024).
Davidson, Michael, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, Mortimer Abramowitz, Douglas B. Murphy, Kenneth R. Spring, Robert Sutter, and Thomas J. Fellers. Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 1998. 1 Aug. 2003. 14 Sep. 2024 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html>.
@misc{
Author = "Michael Davidson and Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Mortimer Abramowitz and Douglas B. Murphy and Kenneth R. Spring and Robert Sutter and Thomas J. Fellers",
Title = {Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence},
Publisher = {Olympus America, Inc.},
Volume = {2024},
Number = {14 September 2024},
Month = {August 1, 2003},
Year = {1998}
}
%A Michael Davidson %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Mortimer Abramowitz %A Douglas B. Murphy %A Kenneth R. Spring %A Robert Sutter %A Thomas J. Fellers %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence %D August 1, 2003 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html %O text/html
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Abramowitz, Mortimer %A Murphy, Douglas B. %A Spring, Kenneth R. %A Sutter, Robert %A Fellers, Thomas J. %D August 1, 2003 %T Molecular Expressions: Optical Microscopy Primer - Optical Birefringence %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2024 %N 14 September 2024 %8 August 1, 2003 %9 text/html %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/lightandcolor/birefringencehome.html
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This item is an interactive Java simulation depicting the Michel-Levy birefringence color chart. By clicking on the virtual chart, students can observe how birefringence, thickness of specimen, and path difference are correlated.
This is an interactive Java simulation by the same authors on the topic of birefringence. It simulates light being passed through a crystal of calcite (Iceland Spar), which has strong birefringent properties. The user will see a double image from the refracted light rays.
This is an interactive Java simulation that depicts a 3-D ellipsoid that represents an optically positive birefringent crystal. Users can adjust the optic axis and refractive index to observe the dielectric properties in all directions.
This is an interactive Java simulation on the topic of birefringence. It explores how the orientation of a crystal's optical axis is related to divergence of orthogonal wave pathways through the crystal.
This is an interactive Java simulation that depicts a virtual calcite crystal superimposed over the word "Birefringence". By rotating the crystal and axis of the polarizer, users can see the image doubling effect caused by the crystal's birefringent properties.
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