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Optical Indicatrix
and Interference Figures
Optical Indicatrix and Interference Figures:
LAB TS-3:
Uniaxial minerals
Interference figures
Optic sign
Pleochroic scheme
LAB TS-4:
Biaxial minerals
Interference figures
Optic sign
Pleochroic scheme
Optical Indicatrix and Interference Figures:
1. Optical Indicatrix
unpolarised light
light source
Conoscopic vs. Orthoscopic
Observation
• Diagram
compares
the two
types of
viewing
5
Optical Indicatrix
Nesse, Ch. 7, p. 130-136
1. What is it?
a geometric figure that shows the index of refraction
and vibration direction for light passing in any direction
through a material
nmax
in 2D: nmin = nmax (slow)
circle:
nmin isotropic nmin nmin < nmax
(fast) ellipse:
anisotropic
nmax
constructed as a sphere or ellipsoid with radii parallel to the principal
vibration directions and lengths of axes proportional to refractive index
Optical Indicatrix
nmax
in 2D: nmin = nmax (slow)
circle:
nmin isotropic nmin nmin < nmax
(fast) ellipse:
anisotropic
nmax
in 3D:
indicatrix for isotropic mineral is a sphere (of no further interest)
indicatrix for anisotropic mineral is an ellipsoid
2 cases: uniaxial and biaxial
Optical Indicatrix
in 3D: indicatrix for anisotropic mineral is an ellipsoid
Z random
principal
sections section
ray paths
not necessarily
// wave normal
X=Y<Z X<Y=Z
X=Y<Z X<Y=Z
X=Y<Z X<Y=Z
Z
2V only 2 circular
sections possible
X
2 optic axes (OA)
Y normal to the
circular sections
acute angle
between OA = 2V
Case 2: Biaxial indicatrix
ellipsoid with axes X < Y < Z
na // X, nb // Y, ng // Z
c = OA = X
X +ve -ve X
a +ve
a -ve
Optic Sign
how do we figure this out???
c = OA = X
X +ve -ve X
a +ve
a -ve
Optic Sign
how do we figure this out???
Requires:
conoscopic light (condenser lens in place)
interference figures (viewed with Bertrand lens)
use of STP to determine fast and slow directions
inclined
parallel
(most biaxial)
(uniaxial,
some biaxial)
c = OA = X
X +ve Bxa -ve X
a +ve
a -ve
Bxa
determined from OA figure determined from Bxa or OA figure