Birefringence

{
  "id": "MLC-T-OAG-000356",
  "term": "Birefringence",
  "field": "Oil and gas",
  "definition": "The optical phenomenon in which a material splits a single incident light ray into two separate, orthogonally polarized rays. This double refraction occurs because the material's refractive index is not uniform but varies according to the direction of light propagation and its polarization. In petrographic microscopy, geologists use this property to identify minerals in thin sections, as each birefringent mineral exhibits a characteristic maximum interference color when viewed between crossed polarizers.",
  "subject": "Geophysics",
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oil-and-gas/birefringence/"
}