Birefringent Crystal Growing Tips?
Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau
Birefringent Crystal Growing Tips?
I'm mainly interested in photographing the beautiful effects and colors of birefringent crystals under a polarizing microscope. However, chemistry is not my strength. Does anyone have an tips on getting beautiful crystals to form? So far I've been working with epsom salt, washing soda, boric acid, wart remover, tartaric acid, and citric acid. I assume these all have different properties and grow crystals optimally under different circumstances. Many times I can get fantastic crystals, yet spectacular color only in small select areas. Is there a trick to getting a slide full of colors?
Have you tried "retarders"?
Bits of sellotape, CD box or its wrapper will do, or quarter /half wave posh ones if you want to measure the phase shift.
They push you into pretty bits of the Michel-Lévy Chart.
A nice explanation is here.
Bits of sellotape, CD box or its wrapper will do, or quarter /half wave posh ones if you want to measure the phase shift.
They push you into pretty bits of the Michel-Lévy Chart.
A nice explanation is here.
Chris R