Prisms for Polarization A number of polarizing prisms have been devised which make use of birefringence to separate two beams in a crystalline material. Often they make use of total internal reflection.	Index Polarization concepts
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Nicol Prism Polarization can be achieved with crystalline materials which have a different index of refraction in different crystal planes. Such materials are said to be birefringent or doubly refracting. The Nicol prism is made up from two prisms of calcite cemented with Canada balsam . The ordinary ray can be caused to totally reflect off the prism boundary, leaving only the extraordinary ray. Polarizing prisms

Index Polarization concepts

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