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Light propagation in crystals

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Symmetry and Physical Properties of Crystals

Abstract

When an electromagnetic wave propagates in a crystal, the material becomes electrically polarized by the electric field of the wave since its electrical permittivity is different from that of vacuum. The propagation of electromagnetic waves is governed by Maxwell’s equations. In the case of anisotropic materials, these yield the birefringence of crystals, which is thoroughly discussed.

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Correspondence to Cécile Malgrange .

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

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Malgrange, C., Ricolleau, C., Schlenker, M. (2014). Light propagation in crystals. In: Symmetry and Physical Properties of Crystals. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8993-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8993-6_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-017-8992-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-8993-6

  • eBook Packages: Physics and AstronomyPhysics and Astronomy (R0)

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