eo_logo
 
Product added to cart

Knowledge Center/ Glossary/ Index of Refraction (n)

Index of Refraction (n)

The ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum (c) to the speed of light in a refractive material (v). The index of refraction of a given medium varies with wavelength because the speed of light varies with wavelength. Common indices of refraction include nd (the yellow helium line at 587.6nm), nf  (the blue hydrogen line at 486.1nm) and nc (the red hydrogen line at 656.3nm).

See also Abbe-Number , Birefringence , Angle of Incidence , Glass Code , Angle of Reflection , Dispersion , Refraction , Gradient Index , Cladding

Was this content useful to you?