SYN: double refraction.
* * *
bi·re·frin·gence .bī-ri-'frin-jən(t)s n the refraction of light in an anisotropic material in two slightly different directions to form two rays
bi·re·frin·gent -jənt adj
* * *
n.
the property possessed by some naturally occurring substances (such as cell membranes) of doubly refracting a beam of light, i.e. of bending it in two different directions.
• birefringent adj.
* * *
bi·re·frin·gence (bi″re-frinґjəns) the quality of transmitting light unequally in different directions, so that an incident ray is split into two refracted rays that travel at different velocities; double refraction. birefringent adjMedical dictionary. 2011.