Crystal optics

Crystal optics is the study of how light interacts with crystalline materials. Because crystals have a highly ordered internal structure, they affect light differently depending on its direction and polarization. This results in phenomena such as birefringence, where a single light beam splits into two beams traveling at different speeds, creating optical effects like double images. Understanding crystal optics is essential in designing optical devices like wave plates and polarization filters, and it helps scientists analyze crystal structures and properties by observing how they influence light passing through them.