optical phenomenon

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Noun

optical phenomenon - a physical phenomenon related to or involving light

physical phenomenon - a natural phenomenon involving the physical properties of matter and energy

optical aberration, aberration, distortion - an optical phenomenon resulting from the failure of a lens or mirror to produce a good image

absorption band - a dark band in the spectrum of white light that has been transmitted through a substance that exhibits absorption at selective wavelengths

diffraction - when light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and dark bands

interference fringe, fringe - one of the light or dark bands produced by the interference and diffraction of light

incidence - the striking of a light beam on a surface; "he measured the angle of incidence of the reflected light"

optical illusion - an optical phenomenon that results in a false or deceptive visual impression

pleochroism - the phenomenon of different colors appearing when certain crystals are viewed from different directions

polarization, polarisation - the phenomenon in which waves of light or other radiation are restricted in direction of vibration

parallax - the apparent displacement of an object as seen from two different points that are not on a line with the object

Tyndall effect - the phenomenon in which light is scattered by very small particles in its path; it makes a beam of light visible; the scattered light is mainly blue

References in classic literature ?

It is merely the effect of the MIRAGE," said the doctor, "and nothing else--a simple optical phenomenon due to the unequal refraction of light by different layers of the atmosphere, and that is all.

View in context

The 'Sun Dog' optical frame is named after the rare atmospheric optical phenomenon of two bright fields appearing to the left and right of the sun.

Elemental eyewear

The phenomenon is known as a 'sun dog' or mock sun, an optical phenomenon which appears as a bright spot to the left or right of the real sun within a 22-degree halo.

Sun dog appears in China - Phenomenon of one or two mock suns has been known since Antiquity

This optical phenomenon is one of several generated as a result of a concept called nonlinearity.

Improving the femtosecond ultrashort pulse laser

Which optical phenomenon consists of an arc of light across the sky composed of the colours of the spectrum?

QUIZ

The micro embossed SR structures are in the wavelength range of white light, such that when white light interacts directly with the holographic line grating structure, the optical phenomenon of diffraction occurs and the light is split into its spectral colours.

Combining optically variable structures and coatings--multiplying security and complexity from Louisenthal

Balanon and Zafra borrow the term 'Fata Morgan,' an optical phenomenon of object distortion, to appropriate their images and relate their concerns.

Visual Arts

This breathtaking optical phenomenon was captured by a talented photographer above the town of Red River in New Mexico.

Town says halo to phenomenon

31 October 2014 - US diagnostic testing provider BCR Diagnostics unveiled Thursday the discovery of Fiber-based Internal Reflection (FiBIR), or what the company calls an unprecedented optical phenomenon that can revolutionise the growing field of fluorescence-based testing.

BCR Diagnostics reveals revolutionary FiBIR technology for fluorescence amplification

The Terby White Spot is a striking example of an optical phenomenon first described by the Austrian physicist and empirical philosopher Ernst Mach in 1865.

Exploring the solar system: when seeing isn't believing: this bright feature in Saturn's rings is merely an illusion

But this was not down to a naturally occurring optical phenomenon due to the sunny weather but two jet fighter aircraft from the French Air Force paying a visit to RAF Valley.