Conical refraction: Experiments and large-scale demonstrations

Results of experiments on internal and external conical refraction on a rhombic sulfur single crystal are presented. A high-transmission optical scheme is suggested with light focusing on the crystal surface which allows two fringes of internal conical refraction ∼1 m in diameter to be observed in laser radiation. Two fringes of external conical refraction with unique polarization state are first observed, and conditions of light energy concentration along the biradial are discussed. The focusing power of a plane-parallel biaxial crystal plate is measured. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.