Optical Properties
Diamond dust is often associated with halos around the sun (sun dogs) and other related optical phenomena (Greenler, 1999). These result because the diamond dust crystals form directly as simple hexagonal ice crystals — as opposed to freezing drops — and because they generally form slowly. This combination results in crystals with well defined shapes, usually either hexagonal plates or columns. These shapes, like a prism, can refract light in specific directions. Some halos can also be seen under a cirrus cloud, but diamond dust can create much more spectacular displays because the ice crystals are all around the observer.
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