On the Effects of Compression and Dilatation in altering the Polarising Structure of Doubly Refracting Crystals.

Brewster, Sir David

Publication Date: 1818

About this Item

Trans. Roy. Soc. Edinb., 8 (1818), 4°, pp.281-286, 1 Tabelle, Rückenbroschur. Read November 17, 1816. First Print, extracted from: The Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh! "In a paper which I had the honour of submitting to the Society, at the end of last session, I gave a detailed account of the effects of mechanical compression and dilatation, in communicating to glass and other uncrystallised bodies, all the properties of doubly refracting crystals. I had at that time attempted, without success, to alter the polarising structure of doubly refracting crystals, although I applied the force of powerful screws to Topaz, Rock-crystal, and Calcareous spar. All the specimens which I employed were crushed to pieces by the pressure, but exhibited no traces of the coloured rings when exposed to polarised light." Brewster Sir David Brewster (1781-1868) was a Scottish scientist, inventor, author, and academic administrator. In science he is principally remembered for his experimental work in physical optics, mostly concerned with the study of the polarization of light and including the discovery of Brewster's angle. He studied the birefringence of crystals under compression and discovered photoelasticity, thereby creating the field of optical mineralogy. For this work, William Whewell dubbed him the "father of modern experimental optics" and "the Johannes Kepler of optics." Morrison-Low, "Published writings of Sir David Brewster: a bibliography," in: Morrison-Low and Christie, 'Martyr of science', No. 229. See: DSB, II, pp. 451-454.

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: On the Effects of Compression and Dilatation in altering the Polarising Structure of Doubly Refracting Crystals.
• Publication Date: 1818
• Seller catalogs:
  • Optik