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
Technical Surveycalled 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.
Philip N. Hawkins et al.3
: the difference between the angles of refraction of light rays exhibiting birefringence
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
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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
Dictionary Entries Near birefringence
Cite this Entry
“Birefringence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/birefringence. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Philip N. Hawkins et al., The New England Journal of Medicine Love words? Need even more definitions?
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