Prism, known as Nicol prism

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This prism, made of two pieces of Iceland spar cemented together with Canada balsam, was constructed around 1848 by Edinburgh lecturer and geologist, William Nicol (1768-1851). Prisms of this type were known as Nicol prisms, after their inventor.

The Nicol prism makes use of the double refracting qualities of Iceland spar to form an optical filter for polarising light.

Used in pairs as polariser and analyser, the prism enables minerals to be identified through optical characteristics which derive from their crystal structures.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-648-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1856.54
• Date: Around 1848
  c. 1848
  
• Material: Prism, Nicol
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Prism, Nicol
  
• Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: William Nicol (Inventor)
  
• Where: Scotland
  
• Event:
• Description: Analysing prism of calespar, made by the inventor William Nicol in his 80th year, c. 1848
  
• References:
  • For the life of Nicol, see Morrison-Low, A.D., 'William Nicol, FRSE, c1771-1851 Lecturer, Scientist and Collector', Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, new series, 2 (1992), pp 123-31 
  • Morrison-Low, A.D. & Christie, J.R.R. (eds.), Martyr of Science: Sir David Brewster 1781-1868. Edinburgh: 1984, p 86-7 
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