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McCrone Michel-Lévy Chart of Birefringences

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McCrone Michel-Lévy Chart of Birefringences


McCrone Michel-Lévy Birefringence Chart


This chart, known as the Michel-Lévy Chart of Birefringences, is a graphical solution to the equation that relates thickness, retardation (path difference), and birefringence (numerical difference between refractive indices). These properties are used by the light microscopist to characterize known materials and can lead to the identification of unknown substances.