Lab Experiments- KamalJeeth Instrumentation & Service Unit

Experiment-193 F

BIREFRINGENCE OF MICA
Dr D Sudhakar Rao and Chaithra G M
Dept. of Physics, St Aloysius College, Mangalore-575 003. INDIA.
Email:sr23us@Yahoo.com

Abstract

Using Babinet compensator ordinary and extra-ordinary rays of light are

produced. These light rays interfere and interference fringes are observed. By
introducing mica sheet in between the incident ray and Babinet compensator,
shift in the fringe pattern is observed. The fringe shift is measured and the
differences in the refractive indices of the ordinary and extraordinary rays are
calculated.

Introduction
Glass is an isotropic material. Hence light travels through it in any direction with the same
velocity. There are some transparent materials such as Calcite, Quartz in which light travels
with two different velocities in two different directions. Such a material is called anisotropic
material or birefringent material. Birefringence or double refraction results due to change in
refractive indices of the material in two different directions. The atoms in the material are
bound to crystal lattice with different forces along its three different crystallographic axes
which results in anisotropicity of the material with different refractive indices. Most of the
transparent plastics, synthetic fabrics and liquid crystals are birefringent in nature meaning
they have two different refractive indices along the two different crystal axes. Table–1 lists
birefringent materials and their refractive indices. The difference between the two refractive
indices is called Birefringence. It is the measure of the ability of the material to refract light
waves [1].

Table-1
Material no ne Birefringence
Tourmaline (complex silicate) 1.669 1.658 0.011
Calcite (CaCO3) 1.6584 1.4864 0.172
Quartz (SiO2) 1.5443 1.5534 -0.0091
Sodium Nitrate (NaNO3) 1.5854 1.3369 0.2485
Ice (H2O) 1.309 1.313 -0.004
Rutile (TiO2) 2.616 2.903 -0.287
Calomel (Hg2 Cl2) 1.973 2.656 -0.683
Ruby (Al2 O3) 1.77 1.762 0.008
Sapphire (Al2 O3) 1.768 1.76 0.008
Refractive indices of few birefringent materials

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A birefringent material can be easily identified by placing the material over a dot mark made
by a pen on paper. Two distinct dots will be observed because of two refractive indices of the
material. By placing a piece of Polaroid sheet over the crystal and rotating it, one can see two
distinct images one of which is fixed while the other moves with rotation of the material.

In an anisotropic material, such as Calcite, out of the three crystallographic axes, two of the
axes may be isotropic (similar) and one may be an anisotropic (dissimilar). The isotropic
axis is called optical axis. This is taken as the X-axis, perpendicular to which Y and Z-axis
are taken. Light travels with different speeds along X and Y-axis or X and Z-axis. The ray of
light traveling along the X-axis with its electric field (E-field) vector perpendicular to X-axis
is called ordinary-ray (O-ray) and light traveling on Y or Z axis with its E-field parallel to Y
or Z-axis is called extra-ordinary ray (E-ray). Hence when light travels through a
birefringent material it splits into ordinary and extraordinary rays. Figure-1 shows the
splitting of incoming polarized light into extra ordinary and ordinary rays.

Refraction taking place

at the point of incidence
Birefringent
material ( Calcite)

E-field
H-field

I Ordinary ray
Light source
Extraordinary ray
E-field

H-field
Ray split in to two,
Ordinary and
Extraordinary rays

Figure-1: Incident light beam splitting in to ordinary and extra-ordinary rays

Babinet Compensator

The splitting of monochromatic light into O-ray and E-ray was first demonstrated by Babinet
using an instrument called Babinet Compensator. In this he used two wedges shaped Quartz
crystals cut along its two different axes as shown in Figure-2. On such a crystal
monochromatic plane polarized light is allowed to fall. The plane polarized light gets
refracted and the O-rays and E-rays that are produced interfere with each other to form
fringes. These fringes can be observed.

It is not only solids but also some transparent liquids that exhibit birefringence from which
prisms cannot be made. Hence to observe birefringence of other materials Babinet
compensator can be used. The birefringent material is placed after the polarizer on which
first the plane polarized light is allowed to fall. The O-rays and E-rays coming out of the
material is allowed to fall on Quartz crystal of the Babinet compensator. Inside the
compensator quartz crystal these rays further refract and hence the original fringes get
shifted. By measuring the increase in fringe shift, birefringence of the material placed
between the polarizer and the compensator can be estimated. The compensator acts like an
amplifier that increases path difference between the two rays. This enables measurement of
the birefringence.

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Birefringent materials are used as retarding plates in optics. These optical plates are used to
produce phase difference between two outgoing light rays. Phase difference of the order of
several wavelengths can be produced by this method. Producing wavelength difference is
making one wave travel slower than the other wave hence it is called the “wave retarding
plate”. Figure-3 shows the Babinet compensator used in this experiment. The eyepiece is
fixed to an analyzer. This is required because of the use of polarizer at the input of the
compensator. By adjusting the analyzer the brightness of the fringes can be adjusted.

Y-axis
Crystal cut in the wedge shape
parallel to the optical axis
Y-axis
Crystal cut in the wedge shape
perpendicular to the optical
axis

Optical axis (X)

Optical axis (X)

Z-axis Z-axis

Two wedges joined

to form prism
Figure-2: Two wedge shaped quartz crystal joined together to form a prism

Figure-3: Babinet Compensator used in this experiment

Babinet compensator shown in Figure-3 is an optical instrument designed by Jacques

Babinet (1794-1872) a French physicist. Using which he studied optical properties of various
transparent materials. This provides controllable wave retardation. Unlike a fixed wave plate
where the path difference is fixed (example: Quarter wave plate path difference λ/4). Babinet
compensator can be adjusted to provide variable path difference (X) by using different
thickness birefringent materials. A white light illuminating the Babinet compensator
produces colored fringes and monochromatic light will produce bright and dark fringes.

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Theory
Velocity of light in a medium is defined as
c
Vmedium =
n

Where ‘c’ is velocity of light in vacuum

‘n’ is refractive index of the medium

Because of double refractive index the velocities of light in two different directions are
different. Hence velocity along optical axis (X-axis)

c
V⊥ = Vx = …1
n0

c
V// = VY,Z = …2
ne

Where VX is velocity of light along optical axis (X-axis)

VY,Z is velocity of light along (Y or Z) direction.

c = V// ne = V⊥no …3

Since E-rays travel faster than the O-rays

no > ne …4

If ‘t” is the thickness of the crystal through which the light travels, then “ne t” is the optical
path of E-rays and “not” is optical path of O-rays. Therefore the path difference between the
rays is

∆ = (no-ne) t …5

If this path difference is integral multiple of wavelength then constructive and destructive
interference takes place and interference fringes are observed at a distance from the crystal,
which can be observed through an eyepiece. For constructive interference

∆ = nλ …6

Where ‘n’ is an integer and λ is the wavelength of the incident light. A second birefringent
material placed in between compensator and the polarizer adds further path difference in to
this. Because of which the entire fringe system will shift or move from its original position as
shown in Figure-4. This fringe shift can be measured. The path difference due to second
birefringent material is given by [2,3]

λ
∆= δβ …7
β

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Substituting for ∆ in equation-5, birefringence of the second material

λδβ
(n o - n e ) = …8
βt

Where δβ is the fringe shift with second material

β is fringe width without the second material
t is the thickness of the second material
λ is wavelength of the light used
(no-ne) is difference in the refractive indices of the O and E rays.

Vertical Cross Vertical Cross

wire wire

Fringes

Shiting of the fringe

Figure-4: Shift in fringes due to mica sheet (second birefringent material)

Knowing thickness of birefringent material, measuring fringe width and fringe separation,
difference in the refractive indices of the E-rays and O-rays produced by the birefringent
material placed between the polarizer and compensator can be determined.

Apparatus Used

Babinet compensator, mica sheet of two different thicknesses, sodium vapor lamp and optical
bench (Optional). The complete experimental set-up is shown in Figure-5.

Figure-5: Birefringence experimental set-up (Color picture front cover)

Experimental Procedure

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1. Uniform thickness 2x1 inch2 mica sheet is taken and its average thickness is
determined using a screw gauge. The observations are tabulated in Table -2.

Thickness t = 0.035 mm for sheet-1

Thickness t = 0.055 mm for sheet-2

2. The polarizer and analyzers are mounted on the uprights of the optical bench facing
sodium vapor lamp.

3. Babinet compensator is now placed between the polarizer and the analyzer. They are
aligned in a straight line along the optical bench.

4. Now light from sodium lamp is made to fall on the polarizer.

5. The analyzer is rotated to get minimum intensity in the field of view.

Table-2
Mica sheet used PSR (mm) HSR (div) TR Mean thickness t (mm)
0 3 0.03
Sheet-1 0 4 0.04
0 3 0.03 0.035
0 4 0.04
0 6 0.06
Sheet-2 0 6 0.06
0 5 0.05 0.055
0 5 0.05
Mica sheet thickness

Figure-6: Straight-line fringes observed

6. A series of dark and bright fringes are seen in the field of view during the process of
adjustment. The analyzer is stopped rotating when distinctly clear fringes are
observed. The fringes observed are shown in Figure-6.

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7. Using the micrometer of the Babinet compensator, the fringe width is measured by
coinciding two consecutive fringes with the vertical cross wire. The readings obtained
are tabulated in Table-3.
Fringe width β = 1.406mm

8. One of the mica sheets is introduced between the polarizer and the compensator. It is
rotated at that position by hand to get maximum fringe shift and held at that position
to note fringe shift.

9. The micrometer reading after making the vertical cross-wire coincide with the edge of
the earlier dark fringe is noted.

10. The difference between the micrometer readings gives the fringe shift. The readings
are tabulated in Table-4.

11. The experiment is repeated for different fringes and each time the fringe shift is
calculated.

12. Birefringence of mica is then calculated using equation-8.

13. The experiment is repeated for another mica sheet and the mean birefringence is
calculated.
Table-3
Fringe No. Micrometer reading Fringe width
MSR (mm) CVD Total reading β (mm)
1 1 42 1.42 -
2 2 82 2.82 1.40
3 4 21 4.21 1.41
4 5 61 5.61 1.40
5 7 02 7.02 1.41
6 8 43 8.43 1.41
Fringe width determination

Table-4
Thickness Before introducing After introducing mica Fringe Birefringence
of the mica sheet sheet Shift λ × δβ
sheet used δβ ∆=
β×t
t (mm) PSR HSR TR PSR HSR TR (mm)
(mm)
1 62 1.62 1 32 1.32 0.30 0.003591
3 04 3.04 2 75 2.75 0.29 0.003471
0.035 4 49 4.49 4 19 4.19 0.30 0.003591
5 91 5.91 5 57 5.57 0.30 0.003591
7 33 7.33 7 04 7.04 0.29 0.003471
1 16 1.16 1 58 1.58 0.42 0.003574
2 42 2.42 2 84 2.84 0.42 0.003574
0.055 3 58 3.58 3 99 3.99 0.41 0.003489
5 44 5.44 5 85 5.85 0.41 0.003489
6 89 6.89 7 29 7.29 0.40 0.003404
Determination of fringe shift and birefringence

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PSR- Pitch scale reading, HSR- head scale reading, TR- total reading, Mean birefringence = 0.0035245

Results
Birefringence of mica = 0.0035245
Standard value =0.0033 to 0.005
Discussion
This experiment can be done on Optical bench or the stand provided along with the
instrument can be used as shown in Figure-5. The fringes will appear once the analyzer,
compensator, eyepiece-carrying analyzer are in straight line.

References

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birefringence

[1] Francis A Jenkins and Harvey E White, Fundamentals of Optics, P-569.

[2] http://plc.cwru.edu/tutorial/enhanced/files/lc/biref/biref.htm

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