Teaching Tools of Calcite Birefringence with Use of Luminescence under Purple Laser Light Excitation

Abstract

New teaching tools were developed to demonstrate calcite birefringence. We used three luminescent materials: an infusion of quercus (quercus water), uranium glass prisms, and a calcite crystal for the purpose of visualizing the light traces. A laser pointer that provides a 405-nm purple light emission was used as the excitation source for luminescence. The aforementioned materials were assembled for the apparatus as follows. (1) A calcite crystal was placed in quercus water, or (2) A calcite crystal was placed between two uranium glass prisms, and then the light traces were observed. The following light traces were visualized; the incident light, the refracted light in the calcite crystal, and the transmitted light that passes through quercus water or a uranium glass prism. Practical applications of our tools that demonstrate rectilinear propagation, reflection, and refraction of light can result in better understanding of light propagation among the high school students.