Historical Events tagged with "birefringence"
Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.
Fresnel Defines Polarization Concepts
Augustin-Jean Fresnel presented a memoir to the Academy of Sciences, where he introduced the terms linear polarization, circular polarization, and elliptical polarization. His thorough investigation included a direct refraction experiment that provided crucial verification of his theory, connecting optical rotation to the concept of birefringence in light. This presentation significantly contributed to the understanding of light's behavior.
Continue ReadingFresnel Reports on Birefringence Experiment
In a note presented to the Academy of Sciences, Augustin-Jean Fresnel discusses a direct refraction experiment that verifies David Brewster's hypothesis regarding photoelasticity. This phenomenon, now recognized as stress-induced birefringence, showcases how materials change optical properties under stress. Fresnel's findings contribute to the understanding of light behavior in different media, marking a significant advancement in optics.
Continue ReadingBrewster Announces Biaxial Crystals Discovery
David Brewster presented his findings on doubly-refracting crystals to the Royal Society, highlighting the biaxial class. Simultaneously, Augustin-Jean Fresnel prepared a supplement regarding the reflection of polarized light, demonstrating ongoing advancements in optics and light behavior, leading to significant developments in the field.
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