Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1976 (SND Vol. X, list of scientific terms with Scottish connections).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
KERR. Combs. Kerr effect, one or other of two light phenomena noted by John Kerr (1824–1901), of Ardrossan, physicist, in 1875 in regard to double refraction produced by an isotropic gas or liquid in an electrostatic field, and in 1876 to elliptical polarisation when plane-polarised light is reflected from a magnet. The effect is demonstrated by means of a Kerr cell.
