Birefringence

An interactive Michel-Lévy interference color chart is offered, providing access to a database of 562 minerals. Users select the observed color and section thickness to calculate birefringence automatically and receive suggestions for candidate minerals. The chart's range can be customized from 200 nm to 2500 nm and offset by ± λ or ± λ/4. It can be used as a classic nomogram or in a simplified mode without radial lines, designed for enhanced user experience.

The color accuracy of this chart, based on Sørensen's methods (2013), provides a more faithful representation of microscope observations compared to conventional printed nomograms. Aided by the app, users can access optical and physical details of candidate minerals, such as birefringence ranges (minimum, maximum, mean), relief, optical character, pleochroism, color, and cleavage.

The app also includes the Raith-Sørensen color chart, which functions interactively to depict interference colors based on birefringence and sample thickness (Sørensen 2013).

This application serves as a valuable tool for professionals in polarized light microscopy, polariscopy, optical mineralogy, stress optics, or individuals interested in birefringent materials.