ANISOTROPIC

Pertaining to a material whose electrical or optical properties vary with (a) the direction of propagation of a traveling wave or with (b) different polarizations of a traveling wave. Note 1: Anisotropy is exhibited by non-cubic crystals, which have different refractive indices for lightwaves propagating in different directions or with different polarizations. Note 2: Anisotropy may be induced in certain materials under mechanical strain.