Скачать или смотреть Chondrules in meteorite thin sections in cross-polarized light

Chondrules are believed to have formed from molten or partially molten droplets in space. The prevailing theory suggests they were formed by rapid, "flash" heating (within minutes or less) of solid dust aggregates in the early solar nebula, followed by quick solidification. The exact heating mechanism is still debated, with theories including nebular lightning, shock waves from stellar outflows, or high-velocity collisions. : Chondrules are considered some of the oldest solid materials in the Solar System, dating back to its very beginning (about 4.56 billion years ago).

In this video I filmed a chondrule with using polarized filters. Chondrule crystals are birefringent, meaning they split polarized light into two rays that travel at different speeds. When these rays recombine after passing through the crystal and a second polarized filter, they interfere, creating interference colors. Rotating the filters changes how these rays recombine, causing the observed color changes.