written by
Michael Davidson, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Kenneth R. Spring
published by
the Olympus America, Inc. and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
This item is an interactive Java simulation for students of introductory physics or optics on the phenomenon known as birefringence. It features a cross-sectional Fresnel ellipsoid which can be rotated in three dimensions. The optic axis and refractive index are adjustable, allowing users to explore how the shape and dimension of the ellipsoid is a function of refractive index
This item is part of a larger collection of materials on introductory optics developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. See Related Items to link to a full tutorial by the same authors on Optical Birefringence.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6768">Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006.</a>
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring, (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), WWW Document, (https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html).
M. Davidson, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring, Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid (Olympus America, Inc., Center Valley, 1998), <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html>.
Davidson, M., Parry-Hill, M., & Spring, K. (2006, June 15). Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid. Retrieved March 17, 2025, from Olympus America, Inc.: https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html
Davidson, M, M. Parry-Hill, and K. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., June 15, 2006. https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html (accessed 17 March 2025).
Davidson, Michael, Matthew J. Parry-Hill, and Kenneth R. Spring. Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid. Center Valley: Olympus America, Inc., 1998. 15 June 2006. 17 Mar. 2025 <https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html>.
@misc{
Author = "Michael Davidson and Matthew J. Parry-Hill and Kenneth R. Spring",
Title = {Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid},
Publisher = {Olympus America, Inc.},
Volume = {2025},
Number = {17 March 2025},
Month = {June 15, 2006},
Year = {1998}
}
%A Michael Davidson %A Matthew J. Parry-Hill %A Kenneth R. Spring %T Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid %D June 15, 2006 %I Olympus America, Inc. %C Center Valley %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html %O application/java
%0 Electronic Source %A Davidson, Michael %A Parry-Hill, Matthew J. %A Spring, Kenneth R. %D June 15, 2006 %T Molecular Expressions: Polarized Light Microscopy - The Fresnel or Refractive Index Ellipsoid %I Olympus America, Inc. %V 2025 %N 17 March 2025 %8 June 15, 2006 %9 application/java %U https://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/polarizedlight/ellipsoid/index.html
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This item is the full tutorial 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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