Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Double refraction

Description

This lecture covers the concept of double refraction, focusing on wave propagation along principal axes and the index ellipsoid representation of the relative permittivity tensor. It also discusses the macroscopic Maxwell equations for plane waves in reciprocal space and birefringence in anisotropic media.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Physics

Optics: Wave polarization

Related concepts (32)

Birefringence

Birefringence is the optical property of a material having a refractive index that depends on the polarization and propagation direction of light. These optically anisotropic materials are said to be birefringent (or birefractive). The birefringence is often quantified as the maximum difference between refractive indices exhibited by the material. Crystals with non-cubic crystal structures are often birefringent, as are plastics under mechanical stress.

Refractive index

In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an optical medium is a dimensionless number that gives the indication of the light bending ability of that medium. The refractive index determines how much the path of light is bent, or refracted, when entering a material. This is described by Snell's law of refraction, n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2, where θ1 and θ2 are the angle of incidence and angle of refraction, respectively, of a ray crossing the interface between two media with refractive indices n1 and n2.

Crystal optics

Crystal optics is the branch of optics that describes the behaviour of light in anisotropic media, that is, media (such as crystals) in which light behaves differently depending on which direction the light is propagating. The index of refraction depends on both composition and crystal structure and can be calculated using the Gladstone–Dale relation. Crystals are often naturally anisotropic, and in some media (such as liquid crystals) it is possible to induce anisotropy by applying an external electric field.

Index ellipsoid

In crystal optics, the index ellipsoid (also known as the optical indicatrix or sometimes as the dielectric ellipsoid) is a geometric construction which concisely represents the refractive indices and associated polarizations of light, as functions of the orientation of the wavefront, in a doubly-refractive crystal (provided that the crystal does not exhibit optical rotation).

Wave

In physics, mathematics, engineering, and related fields, a wave is a propagating dynamic disturbance (change from equilibrium) of one or more quantities. Waves can be periodic, in which case those quantities oscillate repeatedly about an equilibrium (resting) value at some frequency. When the entire waveform moves in one direction, it is said to be a traveling wave; by contrast, a pair of superimposed periodic waves traveling in opposite directions makes a standing wave.

Related lectures (28)

Dispersion in anisotropic media

Explores dispersion in anisotropic media, covering k surface, uniaxial crystals, double refraction, beam walk-off, and applications of birefringent crystals.

Linear susceptibility: electrostatics

Explores linear susceptibility in electrostatics, isotropic and anisotropic materials, and wave propagation in anisotropic media.

Electromagnetic Waves: Principles and Applications

Covers the principles of electromagnetic waves, including wave interference and diffraction.

General Formalism for Nonlinear Susceptibility

Covers the general formalism for nonlinear susceptibility in optical response and wave propagation.

Plasma Waves: Properties & Frequencies MOOC: Plasma Physics: Introduction