title: Singular topology of optical absorption in biaxial crystals.
abstract: We show for the first time that biaxial crystals exhibit continua of directions of propagation where the absorption coefficient is the same for the two associated polarization modes. This statement is supported by both calculations and experimental data obtained in Nd:YCOB.
authors.affiliation: Institut Néel CNRS/UJF, 25 rue des Martyrs, BP 166, F38402 Grenoble Cedex 9 France.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Joly
authors.forename: Yannick
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Petit
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boulanger
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Segonds
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Félix
authors.forename: Bertrand
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ménaert
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aka
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009556:Niobium / Q000737:chemistry*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D009556:Niobium